Residents of several sectors of the Escobal corregimiento, an area on the shores of Gatún Lake in Colón, blocked the road due to the lack of drinking water for the past two months. In this area, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) installed a desalination plant as part of a plan to mitigate the water shortage caused by the drought and salinization that has occurred in Gatún Lake. It is expected that the water shortage will be resolved, otherwise they will block the road again. The plant, which began operating in May 2024, has the capacity to produce enough drinking water for 6,000 people daily. Meanwhile, the National Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (Idaan) sent tanker trucks to supply water to the residents. Additionally, it directly supplies about 2,500 inhabitants of the community, which is currently paralyzed, causing a shortage of the vital liquid for the population. The protesters demanded the presence of local authorities, including those from Idaan.
Panamanian residents block road over water shortage
Residents of Escobal in Colón, Panama, blocked a road due to a two-month lack of drinking water. Authorities have installed a desalination plant capable of supplying water to 6,000 people, but residents demand immediate action.
