Rains Leave 5 Dead in
Panama, Threaten More
Flooding
Panama - Five people
died in Panama after
rivers breached their
banks in the west of the
country, as a system of
storms threatens to
bring more floods to
parts of Central
America.
At least five rivers
flooded in the western
provinces of Chiriqui,
where four people died,
and Bocas del Toro,
where one person was
killed, according to
Panamanian President
Martin Torrijos’ Web
site. More than 60
landslides have been
reported, and the homes
of at least 5,700 people
were flooded.
Torrijos declared a
state of emergency on
Nov. 22 and rescuers
brought drinking water,
food, blankets,
mattresses and baby milk
to affected areas,
according to the
statement, posted
yesterday. More floods
may result from a system
of thunderstorms in the
southwestern Caribbean,
the U.S. National
Hurricane Center said.
“As this system drifts
slowly
west-northwestward, it
will likely produce
heavy rains and
localized flooding over
portions of Panama,
Costa Rica, Nicaragua
and eastern Honduras
during the next couple
of days,” the center
said today in a
statement on its Web
site at 1 a.m. Miami
time.
The U.S. has sent a
helicopter to the area
to help with rescue
efforts, and Spain has
promised an unspecified
amount of aid to those
affected, Torrijos said.
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