CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

Panama (Security threat level – 3): On 25 October 2022, police officers fired tear gas to disperse protesting Social Security Fund (CSS) employees at Arnulfo Arias Madrid Hospital in the capital Panama City. The CSS employees — who were conducting a strike action to demand higher pay — claim that the officers deployed tear gas inside the hospital. Authorities stated that they used tear gas to disperse CSS employees who blocked workers from retrieving medical waste from the facility.

NORTH AMERICA

United States (Security threat level – 2): Shortly after 1140 local time (1840 UTC) on 25 October 2022, a 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck the San Francisco Bay Area, located in the state of California. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake occurred approximately 12 mi (20 km) east of the city of San Jose at an estimated depth of 5 miles. The tremor was felt across the area, prompting train operators to momentarily halt services in order to check for possible damage. Trains operated by Cal Train and the Bay Area Rapid Transit system experienced delays due to the incident. Aftershocks of magnitudes 3.5 and 2.9 followed the initial tremor. There were no reports of damage or casualties.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Philippines (Security threat level – 4): At approximately 2300 local time (1500 UTC) on 25 October 2022, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck about 12 km (8 mi) east of the town of Dolores in Abra province — located near the northwestern coast of Luzon Island — at an estimated depth of 27 km, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Light to moderate shaking was felt throughout Luzon Island, including in the Manila metropolitan area — located approximately 320 km south of the earthquake’s epicenter — and in the western city of Baguio. Following the initial quake, authorities recorded approximately 430 aftershocks throughout Abra province.

Officials at Laoag International Airport (RPLI/LAO), located in Ilocos Norte province, suspended operations until 27 October after the discovery of several cracks in the airport’s sole runway. The quake also resulted in landslides that blocked roadways throughout Abra and Ilocos Norte provinces. At least 36 people were injured due to the quake, and several buildings were damaged.

GOVERNMENT WARNINGS

Nigeria (Security threat level – 5): On 25 October 2022, the U.S. Department of State issued an updated Travel Advisory for Nigeria, which reads in part as follows: “On October 25, 2022, the Department authorized the departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members due to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks. The U.S. Embassy Abuja continues to have limited ability to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens in Nigeria. The U.S. Consulate in Lagos is providing all routine and emergency services to U.S. citizens in Nigeria.”

The full text of the advisory can be found here.

South Africa (Security threat level – 4): On 26 October 2022, the U.S. Mission to South Africa issued a Security Alert warning that a terrorist attack may occur in Johannesburg, which reads in part as follows: “The U.S. government has received information that terrorists may be planning to conduct an attack targeting large gatherings of people at an unspecified location in the greater Sandton area of Johannesburg, South Africa, on 29 October 2022. There is no further information regarding the timing, method, or target of the potential attack. The U.S. Embassy has advised staff to avoid crowds of people and other large public gatherings in the greater Sandton area of Johannesburg during the weekend of 29-30 October 2022.”