Giant traffic jams mar the long ride home

Over 80,000 vehicles loaded with happy campers left Panama for the interior last week  but the return journey on Sunday, Nov 7, proved to be traffic hell for thousands of drivers. 

The overflow of the Rio Grande as the rush back to the city began, caused gridlock that stretched for miles on the Pan American Highway 

The log jam of 5000 vehicles spread from the community of Rio Grande to the town of Nata, in Cocle province and lasted for over five hours

Sinaproc officials,  traffic police and the Transit Authority  coordinated emergency action on the road around noon yesterday when the road was re-opened.

The rains also caused floods in , in Penonomé. A landslide on the  Transístmica affected r traffic free from Colon to Panama City.

The communities of Vista Alegre, Sabanitas, New Mexico, Lomar Villa, Villa Catalina Villa Quebrada Ancha Luzmila  were badly affected by flooding.