Panama: Flooding in central areas

Event

Heavy rains that hit the country over the weekend (July 29-30) have resulted in flooding which continues to affect the central provinces of Colón, Panamá Oeste, and Veraguas as of Tuesday, August 1. The rains have caused riverbanks to burst, flooding hundreds of homes and roads and provoking landslides, fallen trees, and power and water outages - including in the coastal city of Colón. Flooding in the district of Arraiján has been described as the worst in a decade. For the moment, no casualties have been reported. However, continued storms are forecast for the region daily through Tuesday, August 9, which could potentially exacerbate the situation.

Context

Flooding and landslides are relatively common during Panama’s long rainy season, which extends from March until December.

Advice

Individuals present in affected areas are advised to keep abreast of the situation, to avoid areas directly hit by flooding, and to adhere to any orders issued by the local authorities. Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult - and that floodwater may contain wastewater or chemical products; all items having come into contact with the water should be disinfected and all foodstuffs disposed of.