Panama Declares State of Emergency as El Niño Intensifies Drought

Panama has declared a state of emergency over the effects of El Niño, becoming the latest Central American country, after Honduras and El Salvador, to take such action.

The emergency was declared on Tuesday as El Niño continues to cause severe drought in parts of the region. The drought has badly affected agricultural production and raised concerns about possible food shortages and famine.

Panama’s Interior Minister, Dinoska Montalvo, said the emergency declaration would enable the authorities to prepare for the potential consequences of the weather phenomenon.

The drought has also affected operations along the Panama Canal, forcing authorities to reduce the number of ships allowed to pass through the important international waterway.

Officials are now preparing for further impacts from El Niño, particularly on agriculture, food supplies and other sectors affected by the prolonged dry conditions.

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