One dead, 57 evacuated as waves pound beaches

ONE PERSON drowned at Cocle’s Malibu Beach on the weekend, and 57 people were evacuated as high waves and strong currents pounded Panama’s Pacific coast.
Damage was caused to numerous other beaches in the area. A green alert, warning of high tides and flooding extending through May 5 has been issued by the Civil Defense Agency (Sinaproc).
Gracia Adrián, Coclé regional Sinaproc director, said the name of the Malibu Beach victim was not yet available.
Adrián said the high tides flooded a number of beach communities, damaging 19 houses.
Damage and flooding at hotelswas reported in Buenaventura, Decameron, Bijao and Rio Hato
A total of 57 people, including 30 adults and 27 children-were evacuated at dawn on Sunday, May 3, in the Anton Farallon sector as strong waves intensified in the early hours of the morning.
Sugeidy Flores, governor of Cocle said that all evacuees were taken to the Sustainable Development Center of the Ministry of Environment located a few meters from the entrance of Farallon and they were provided with mattresses and blankets.
He added that another house in Santa Clara suffered damages and its occupants were evacuated. There were damages to power lines, and firefighters in conjunction with the company Gas Natural Gas Fenosa were called out to make repairs.
Through its Twitter account, the Electric Transmission Company, SA said that the waves are generated by the phenomenon known as “Swell,” which is caused by storms and strong winds in the South Pacific.
Sinaproc in Los Santos has placed red flags on two beaches in the Azuero region. Fishing has been prohibited on the beaches Uverito of Las Tablas and Pedasi El Arenal and transfers to Iguana Island, located in Pedasi, have been stopped as a security measure.