In the affected area, nothing was saved. In Los Pozos, the situation was also difficult. What was experienced this weekend in Azuero was no ordinary downpour: it was hours of intense rain that left families devastated and fields, roads, and houses in chaos between Herrera and Los Santos.
In Rincón Hondo de Pesé, a family was left devastated when water entered their house and barn as if nothing, after a stream suddenly overflowed. "If the river rises, evacuate without a second thought," warned Pérez.
The San Pedro hill collapsed with a landslide that closed the road. They said they had never experienced anything like it, that they were away when it all happened, and that when they returned, they only saw water everywhere.
Mayor Omar Bultrón explained that, together with the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) and security agencies, they brought in excavators and heavy machinery to clear the passage.
The road between Los Pozos and Pesé was also damaged by more landslides and dragged material, so MOP crews are still in the area trying to restore mobility.
In the highlands, the story is the same: fallen trees, saturated soils, and a latent risk that another hill could collapse if it keeps raining.
The director of SINAPROC in Los Santos, Iván Pérez, explained that the rain that fell in the upper part of Herrera—where the La Villa river originates—caused the water to flow down forcefully towards the low-lying areas, causing sudden floods.
The authorities are keeping the population on alert, especially those living in vulnerable areas. And the message remains clear: "Do not risk your life."
