Record Easter traffic exodus and deaths

AS  64,000 vehicles exited Panama city for Easter weekend  a major increase   over last year, five people died in traffic incidents rocketing fatalities for the year to 115 in 85 days by 3pm on Friday, March 25.

Over 18,000 National and   Transit (ATTT) police were on duty monitoring    the traffic flow but the Joint Task Force reported four deaths in Panama Province and one in Chiriqui.

The ATTT said that eight traffic accidents were handled and at least 131 speeding tickets were issued.

Until noon on Friday, March 25, some 64, 342 vehicles left the capital heading into the country. about 20,000  more than in 2015  according to the police report,

The National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc) was on duty  at about 45 rivers and beacheswhich attracted 232,000   throughout the country and there were no fatalities.

The national Fire Department had 2,500 firefighters  and 156 vehicles, on standby and handled 48 fires in the Ngäbe Bugle and in the provinces of Los Santos, Panama, Panama East and West and Cocle.