Floods leave10 dead one missing, airport and cell phone disruptions

(newsroompanama.com) Ten people are dead and one missing following the heavy rains and flooding in Panama.


Colón on the Caribbean coast has borne the brunt of the rain storms leading to heavy damage, landslides, and eight of the deaths.

The missing person was last seen in the area of the Bayano dam, near Chepo, east of Panama city, which had been close to overflowing and led to the opening of some of the sluice gates. Although the flood waters have begun to recede, dozens of families are still packed ionjto schools.

The national civil aid organization, Sinaproc has issued anmother red warningas band of low pressure in the Caribbean will continue to affect the coastal areas of Kuna Yala and the Darién. As the cold front is stationary, the bad weather is likely to continue for the next few days.
President Ricardo Martinelli has issued a state of emergency.

Cell phone company Cable and Wireless said that the heavy rains have caused landslides that have damaged some of its transmission towers, impacting service in Las Perlas, and some areas in Panama, Darién and Colón.

Delays are expected during peak traffic hours at Tocumen International Airport, where Flooding has caused cracks to appear in the older runway, which will be closed until officials can do a complete evaluation.

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Original Source: Newsroompanama.com

Date Retrieved: December 10, 2010.