Panama Canal Expansion Factors in Earthquakes

Although there is no indication of an imminent earthquake, the new Panama Canal locks are taking measures to withstand up to seven points on the Richter scale.

There is a tectonic fault to the West of the Panama Canal that is 9 miles deep and 31 miles long.  It is located in Pedro Miguel and runs to Howard, passed the Miraflores Locks – location of the new dams and access canal to the new locks, to Gamboa.

“Everything is being considered in the construction, such as clay seals that repair themselves and can support lateral movements of up to three meters and a jump of one meter, in extreme cases,” said Jorge Luis Quijano, Vice Minister of Engineering and Administrative Programs for the Panama Canal Authority.

Panama Canal Administrator Alberto Aleman Zubieta has also asked that all of the old structures be revised including the Gatun Lake locks to determine if corrective measures are required.

The May 2, 1621 movement of the Pedro Miguel fault devastated Panama Viejo.  On October 1, 1913, the New York Times reported severe earthquakes, a shock that “came in a tremulous upheaving motion” that damaged telephone lines and led people to prayer but did not effect any structural damage.

Also interesting is civil engineer and early 20th century bridge builder Gustav Lindenthal’s April 10, 1909 New York Times piece that expresses concern about a “hard shake” to the Panama Canal.

“The Kiss of the Oceans” - Meeting of the Atlantic and Pacific