Earthquake Halts OD Tentations au soleil Filming in Panama

Production of the Quebec reality series OD: Tentations au soleil has been suspended following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck Panama on Friday. The production team announced the decision on social media Sunday, October 11, saying host Maripier Morin and the contestants would return to Quebec soon while officials assessed the show's future.

The disruption puts the third season's planned December release on Crave in question. According to La Presse, the production team has not confirmed whether filming will resume or whether the release schedule will change.

The production team said, "The teams are currently evaluating the different options for this production." The eight-episode season was announced by Bell Media on October 7, with returning reality television personalities and newcomers scheduled to participate.

Despite the suspension, the main Occupation Double season currently airing on Noovo is unaffected. The two productions follow different filming schedules, with the main series generally recorded about three weeks ahead of its broadcast, according to La Presse.

Following the earthquake, the production team had confirmed that contestants and crew members working on both programs were safe. The team described the earthquake's epicenter as being "several hundred kilometers" from the villas used for filming.

Reports on Saturday indicated significant damage in Panama and approximately 30 people injured, with no deaths reported. The earthquake affected several areas of the Central American country, which is not accustomed to disasters of this magnitude.

The production interruption follows another security incident involving Occupation Double earlier in the year. According to La Presse, three armed individuals entered the men's villa while contestants were present. Productions J, the company behind the program, said authorities quickly intervened and arrested all three individuals.

Before the earthquake disrupted the spinoff, filming preparations had been moving forward. On October 8, entertainment outlet Noovo Moi reported that celebrity hairstylist Marcus Villeneuve had shared footage of Morin on set, showing her wearing a pink and orange dress and sporting long, wavy blonde hair extensions.

Villeneuve announced the start of production in the caption accompanying the footage: "OD Tentations au soleil, season 3. Here we go!!!" Morin also shared a video highlighting her new hairstyle and described the weight of her hair extensions as almost violent.

Bell Media's October 7 announcement identified several returning reality television personalities joining the third season. The women include Mia from OD Andalousie, Elisa and Lauriane from OD Chypre, Léa from OD Andalousie, and Megan from L'Île de l'amour.

The male contestants named in the announcement are Deymien from OD Chypre, Jimmy from OD Mexique, and Raphaël and Arnaud from L'Île de l'amour. New participants Corey and Myriane, identified as the best friend of Cath F., are also set to make their debuts in the OD franchise.

The contestants were expected to stay in the same houses used for OD Panamá. Bell Media said the new season would feature eight episodes scheduled for December on Crave, although the earthquake has left the production's immediate plans uncertain.

The interruption also comes as the main Occupation Double season approaches its final stages. In a separate social media explanation reported by Showbizz.net on October 6, host Alicia Moffet addressed questions about returning from Panama before the program's broadcast run had ended.

Moffet explained that the production compresses its filming schedule, recording approximately one week of material over three days before providing two days off. She said filming began on August 12 and wrapped on October 3, with the final trip still to come.

She cautioned viewers against assuming that seeing the hosts at an airport would reveal their travel plans: "Please know that if you run into us at the airport, our first destination is not the final trip. So, don't try!" The main season's finale was scheduled to be filmed live on Sunday, November 22.