In the Last 24 Hours, Sinaproc Responded to 20 Panama Emergencies Due to Rain and Wind
The National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc), through the Emergency Operations Center (COE), reported that as of 4:00 pm this Thursday, August 6, five incidents associated with the rains, storms and strong winds recorded in different provinces have been attended to. Today’s preliminary report details one house partially collapsed due to a falling tree, one tree downed onto power lines, and three trees blocking roads. No injuries have been reported so far. “In West Panama, a tree fell on power lines in Brisas del Chumical, Arraiján district, and authorities coordinated with Naturgy personnel to address the situation.
Two other fallen trees were also cleared from the road in Nuevo Emperador (Arraiján) and Playa Leona (La Chorrera), with support from the Fire Department and SINAPROC units. Meanwhile, in the La Industrial sector of Barrio Colón (La Chorrera), a tree fell on a residence, an emergency being handled by Red Cross personnel. In Panama province, SINAPROC units cleared a fallen tree from the road in the Juan Pablo II sector of Curundú,” the official statement details. Additionally, authorities are constantly monitoring the Panama Viejo River, whose level has risen due to rainfall, and are checking for damage to nearby homes.
On the other hand, it is worth remembering that yesterday there were 15 incidents related to the heavy rains and strong winds in different parts of the country. According to the official report from the entity, no people were reported injured, lost, or missing after those events. Of the total incidents that occurred the previous day, 12 involved fallen trees: four blocked roads in Herrera, Panama, and Colón; three fell on structures in Chiriquí, Veraguas, and Coclé; four damaged homes in Chiriquí, Panama, and Coclé; and one affected power lines in Veraguas.
Additionally, three landslides were reported in the districts of Alcalde Díaz and Ernesto Córdoba Campos, in the province of Panama, as well as flooded streets in the provinces of Panama, Chiriquí, and Veraguas (Santiago). Meanwhile, the Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology of Panama (IMHPA) maintains a weather watch for rain and thunderstorms, in effect from 2:00 a.m. on August 5th until 11:59 p.m. on August 6th. According to meteorologist Abdiel Vásquez, the atmospheric instability is due to the moisture left by Tropical Wave No. 31, combined with the activation of the Panama Low and the passage of several troughs.
Although the warning covers almost the entire national territory (including Veraguas, Los Santos, Herrera, Colón, Darién, Panamá Oeste, Panamá, Coclé and the Guna Yala region), the areas with the greatest risk are Bocas del Toro, the Ngäbe-Buglé region and Chiriquí. Rainfall of varying intensity is expected over the next few hours. The most significant accumulations will be concentrated in Ngäbe-Buglé, Bocas del Toro, southern Veraguas, the mountainous areas of the Azuero Peninsula, the Sambú region, and Chiriquí, with amounts ranging from low to extreme, exceeding 321 mm.
The IMHPA warned that the high soil saturation could cause rapid rises in rivers and streams, localized landslides, and wind gusts associated with storms, mainly on the western Caribbean slope. Given this scenario, Sinaproc urged the population to reinforce prevention measures. It was recommended to avoid crossing rivers, streams, and flooded streets; drive with caution; stay away from trees and power lines; and closely supervise children and the elderly. It was also suggested to have an emergency kit and to stay informed exclusively through official reports from IMHPA and SINAPROC. For emergency reports, the following lines are available: 520-4429 and 911.
