Manuel Rodriguez, Panamanian Red Cross
The Panamanian president, Mireya Moscoso, has declared a state of emergency in the district of Arraiján, barely 20 minutes drive from the centre of Panama City, after some 7,500 people were hit by floods, described by the Minister of Public Works, Eduardo Quirós, as the worst in 30 years. Heavy rain last weekend, combined with high tides, caused a number of rivers in the area to overflow, inundating 12 communities.
“I’ve never seen anything like it. It rally took me by surprise,” says Pergentino Vega, head of the rescue team in Capira, who drove one of the vehicles on the day of the disaster. “We saw cars and houses almost completely covered with water. Our own vehicle filled with water.”
A community centre in the town of Nuevo Arraiján has been turned into a shelter for those affected, and an emergency clinic has been established there. At the same time, the police have stepped up security in the area.
Other parts of the country were affected by flooding, landslides, damage to roofs and fallen trees. The Inter-American Highway was closed for more than five hours.
Around 50 Panamanian Red Cross (PRC) volunteers from five branches took part in the rescue operation and in delivering humanitarian assistance to the affected communities. Six vehicles, including four ambulances were also dispatched.
“The Red Cross helped to rescue 20 people and gave assistance to a pregnant woman who went into premature labour,” said Catalina Nuñez, National Secretary of the PRC rescue corps.
Red Cross staff are now evaluating the needs of the affected communities. The immediate needs are for clothes, blankets, tinned food and baby food. They are also in the process of obtaining school materials so that the children can continue their studies. It has also asked the Federation’s Panama-based Pan-American Disaster Response Unit for 500 kitchen sets and 500 hygiene kits.
The Panamanian Red Cross has also launched a campaign for donations through a local radio station. “The response of the public has been positive, and a group of volunteers is packaging and transporting the donations,” says José Beliz, PRC Director General.
He said that even though no water plants had reported damage, homes were being cleaned and fumigated as a precautionary measure to prevent the outbreak of disease.
Related links:
Panama: appeals, updates and reports
Panamanian Red Cross
Responding to floods
Pan-American Disaster Response Unit (PADRU)
News story: Humanitarian aid reaches Panamanian jungle