Residents of several sectors in the Escobal area, located on the shores of Gatún Lake in Colón, have blocked the road due to a lack of drinking water. This situation has been ongoing for two months without a resolution.
The protest, which began early Monday morning, caused a major traffic jam, affecting passengers traveling to the city of Colón, people with medical appointments, workers who lost work hours, and students who were unable to attend classes.
The demonstrators demanded the presence of local authorities, including the National Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (IDAAN).
In this area, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) installed a desalination plant as part of a plan to mitigate water scarcity caused by the drought and salinization of Gatún Lake. The plant, which began operating in May 2024, can produce drinking water for 6,000 people daily and supplies about 2,500 residents.
However, it is currently paralyzed, causing a total outage of the vital liquid. Meanwhile, the IDAAN has sent tanker trucks to supply the residents.
The authorities will coordinate with the ACP to reactivate the desalination plant to restore the water supply. Residents warn that if the lack of water is not resolved, they will block the road again.
