Patricia Zuccala and her 10-year-old daughter are currently stranded in Panama after surviving two powerful earthquakes. While physically safe , the pair are struggling to return to Montreal amid conflicting travel information and a lack of government support.
The 7.7 and 6.6 magnitude tremors in Río Hato
The disaster struck on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, when two massive earthquakes measuring 7.7 and 6.6 magnitude hit Panama. Patricia Zuccala and her dauughter were at a hotel buffet in the coastal city of Río Hato when the shaking began, causing statues and decorations to crash around them.. According to CTV News, Zuccala had to make a split-second decision to dive under a table with her daughter to avoid being trampled by other guests rushing for the exit.
The physical devastation extended far beyond the hotel in Río Hato. As CTV News reported, rubble from a church tower collapsed in Villa de los Santos, and a vehicle was crushed beneath a fallen building in Penonome. While Zuccala and her child escaped without physical injury, the report notes that many other people suffered bleeding leg injuries from falling debris.
Sunwing's Cancun redirection and the flight void
Logistical failures have left the Montreal family in limbo for two days following the disaster.. Patricia Zuccala reported receiving contradictory communications from her travel provider, Sunwing, and WestJet.. Specifically, WestJet sent an email claiming her flight had been redirected to Cancun, Mexico, only for Zuccala to be told later that no flights were actually available.
While Sunwing has provided financial coverage for two nights of hotel accommodations, the lack of a confirmed itinerary has increased the family's distress. This situation highlights a recurring friction point in the travel industry where third-party providers and airline partners fail to synchronize emergency manifests during natural disasters, leaving passengers without a clear path home.
The silence from the embassy in Panama City
Despite registering as a Canadian abroad and contacting the embassy in Panama City, Patricia Zuccala says she has received no response from the Canadian government. This lack of communication has led Zuccala to describe the family as feeling "abandoned" during a traumatizing event. the failure of the embassy to acknowledge her plea suggests a breakdown in the immediate response protocols intended for citizens in crisis zones.
This incident echoes a broader pattern of frustration often seen when Global Affairs Canada's bureaucratic response times clash with the urgent needs of stranded tourists. For many Canadians, the "registration" process is viewed as a safety net that, in this insstance, failed to provide a tangible lifeline when the infrastructure in Panama was compromised.
100 aftershocks and the psychological toll on a 10-year-old
The trauma of the event is compounded by the ongoing seismic activity in the region. Seismologists recorded more than 100 aftershocks, with some measuring 5.8, 5.5, and 5.2 magnitude. patricia Zuccala noted that her daughter continues to experience phantom shaking, feeling the ground move even during periods of stability.
Several critical questions remain unanswered by the parties involved. It is still unclear why WestJet issued a redirection notice to Cancun that was later invalidated, and Global Affairs Canada has yet to explain the delay in responding to a registered citizen in a disaster zone. While both Sunwing and Global Affairs Canada told CTV News they are "looking into it," no concrete extraction date has been provided for the Zuccala family.
Comments 0