In Panama, Sergio Ábrego, a 15-year-old seventh-grade student, died yesterday while returning home from a school research project. He was caught by a sudden surge of water while crossing the Quebrada Frijol, located a few meters from his home in the community of Coronte, in Kankintú, Ngäbe Buglé comarca. Educators and local residents, upon learning what happened, began searching for him, but it was not until 7:00 a.m. this Monday that they located him, several kilometers away, in the waters of the Río Cricamola, but he was already dead. It had been raining over the weekend in the mountainous areas of the comarca, causing the flow of the Río Cricamola and its tributaries to increase. Initial reports indicate that the young man was returning from doing homework when he was surprised by a surge of water in a ravine that swept him away to the Río Cricamola in Coronte. It is presumed that the minor was unable to do much to save his life, as the strong current quickly carried him away. Tomorrow, Tuesday, the community of the Coronte Educational Center will say their final goodbyes to Sergio, who was always characterized as a young man committed to his studies and determined to succeed. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education issued a statement expressing its condolences to the student's family and urged parents and guardians to take extra precautions and supervise their children given the adverse weather conditions in the country, reinforcing the review of educational material at home to avoid setbacks in learning. Similarly, Meduca ordered the suspension of classes for tomorrow Tuesday in the corregimiento of Calovébora (north coast of Veraguas), in the Nö Kribo region of the Ngäbe-Buglé comarca, and in 13 educational centers in the province of Bocas del Toro, due to unstable atmospheric conditions that have caused rain, storms, rising rivers, floods, and landslides. The suspension is for the safety and mobility of the educational community, following the recommendations of the National System for Civil Protection (SINAPROC), which maintains permanent surveillance, Meduca noted. With this tragedy, the lack of bridges in remote regions has once again become a pressing issue. The teenager's body was found at 7:00 a.m. this Monday by residents of the community.
