Ten Killed in Panama Floods
At least 10 people were killed and a further 1,500 suffered injuries or property damage in Panama due to floods, which cut off villages and destroyed thousands of houses, Roberto Velasquez, director of the National Civil Protection System said on Friday.

"The worst-hit areas are the Costa Abajo area on the Atlantic coast of Colon province, the north of Cocle province and Capira, a district to the west of Panama City, on the Pacific where torrential rain continues," Velasquez said.

In the Capira community of Tres Hermanas, a collapsing bridge isolated 200 people. Four other people were killed in this area, including a eight-months pregnant woman, who was swept away by flood waters.

Panama's president, Martin Torrijos, has ordered a national state of emergency, and the full mobilization of resources to send food, shelter, bedding and medicine to the affected areas.

Rescue organizations have sent 700 volunteers to help the flood victims. Authorities have also set up a center to receive food, clothing and milk in the capital's Omar Torrijos Park, one of the city's largest parks.