Tropical Storm Otto leaves four dead

This morning a landslide occurred in the district of Arraiján, leaving two people dead, a girl drowned in a river and a tree fell on a car killing a nine-year-old child on his way to school.

The boy's mother, who was driving, survived. A Colombian man remains missing after bring dragged away by a rushing river. Meduca, The Panamanian ministry of education has suspended classes until Thursday. Government offices will also close as of mid-day today.

Meduca, The Panamanian ministry of education has suspended classes until Thursday. Government offices will also close as of mid-day today.

The Emergency Operations Center (COE) of the National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc) has announced a yellow alert in Panama as rainfall generated by now, tropical storm Otto, continues.

The low pressure quickly escalated into to a tropical storm with winds of 70 mph as of 10:00 p.m. today, Tuesday, November 22. US National Hurricane Center predicts the storm could escalate to hurricane strength, as nears Costa Rica and southern Nicaragua. A hurricane watch has been issued for Costa Rica and southern Nicaragua. 

A tropical storm warning has been issued in Panama from Nargana to Colon, and tropical storm watch is in effect from west of Colon, Panama to the Costa Rican border.  The US National Hurricane Center says Otto is now near hurricane strength and approaching Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

Panama should expect another day of heavy rainfall with gusts of up to 50 mph (80km/h). The weather could bring flash floods and mudslides in areas throughout the country along with dangerous surf and riptides.