Panama gets its taste of climate change

Panama, like other parts of the world is experiencing the effects of climate change brought on by global warming.

The director of the National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc), Arturo Alvarado, said on Monday, July 30, that the three days of strong winds and heavy rains recorded in Panama from Saturday through, Monday, are an effect of climate change, even though it is the rainy season.

A green alert been issued in the province of Bocas del Toro due to the overflowing rivers Teribe Sixaola and Changuinola. Floods in the villages Bocatorenos led to 3 883 being evacuated to  shelters and1,488  provided with food support. 

Most of the residents of Bocas Bull have returned to their homes and the situation is normalizing in the area but, in the province of Los Santos, 58 homes were affected due to bad weather that occurred in the area  over the weekend with many losing their roofs. 

In  Panama city power was cut in several areas  as falling trees brought down power lines and a roof  was lifted in San Miguelito. 

The areas affected by power cuts,were Balboa,  the Banking Area, San Francisco 75th Street and parts of El Cangrejo.

 Alvarado said that during the current rainy season have there have been reports of more than 300 downed trees.

Flights were delayed at Tocumen International Airport, and traffic throughout the city slowed to a crawl as drivers struggled to see through the heavy downpour..