(Prensa Latina) Heavy Rains during three consecutive days left hundreds homeless in the Panamanian province of Colon, on the Atlantic coast of the isthmus, where collapsed homes and landslides were reported, but no fatalities. Authorities estimates that some 300 families have lost their homes or have them in very bad shape. The worst happened in the recently inaugurated neighborhood Nuevo Arco Iris where many homes delivered in March this year by the government sank 10 feet in a land that ceded to the waters.
Three others were cracked and unusable. In total 23 project families had to be relocated to hotels. In Cativá, the overflow of the creek Fantasma left 250 families homeless, while flooding were also reported in the downtown.
A road in Chagres was also sunk by landslide. Arturo Alvarado, director of the National Protection System, said that what they are experiencing the effects of a low pressure system located between Panama and Costa Rica.
A weather report indicated that rainfall would continue today on the Caribbean coast.
The director of the Fire Department of Panama, Paul Tuñón, recommended to all families in the neighborhood Arco Iris to leave their homes. There are a total of 150 houses there.