The information was confirmed by teachers at the school in Coronte, who expressed their regret over what happened. The rains have caused rivers and streams to rise, leaving several communities isolated in this hard-to-access region. The incident highlights the vulnerability of these areas, where each rainy season poses a risk for those who must travel between communities. In fact, the Ministry of Education (Meduca) decided to suspend classes in the north of Veraguas and in the Ngäbe Buglé comarca on Monday, April 13, due to an alert issued by the National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc) for heavy rains and thunderstorms in that region of the country. The suspension applied to the Calovébora district in the north coast of Veraguas, and to the Ñokribo region in the Ngäbe Buglé comarca. Since 2018, 'Jóvenes Unidos por la Educación' and the Foundation for Economic and Social Development (Fudespa) have documented a high number of drowning deaths among children and young people, mainly in rural and comarca zones. According to the study titled 'Mortal Education: Systematic Crisis of Child Drowning in the Ngäbe Buglé Comarca', 60% of the fatalities in these situations were between 5 and 12 years old. The main concentration will be in Nedrini, where 29 structures are planned in the districts of Mironó, Besikó, and Nole Duima, areas where rivers become natural barriers for those walking to school. Most of these incidents occurred while students were on their way to or from school. The risk for children living in rural areas is constant. Often, students must cross improvised bamboo bridges or use pulleys to cross rivers, exposing themselves to imminent danger. Last March, the Ministry of Public Works requested 18 million from the Budget Commission to build 50 suspension bridges in the Ngäbe Buglé comarca, which would allow 17,000 children to go to school safely and would facilitate passage for other residents. The initial plan contemplates the construction of 50 suspension bridges distributed in three regions of the comarca: Kodri, Ñökribo, and Nedrini. In the Kodri region, it is planned to build 12 footbridges in the Ñurum and Muná districts. Streams, fast-flowing rivers, and impassable roads are just some of the barriers faced daily. A 15-year-old student died in the Ngäbe Buglé comarca after being swept away by the current while trying to cross a stream in the Coronte community, Kankintú district. The teenager was returning home after doing schoolwork in a neighboring community amid the persistent rains that have affected the region over the weekend. According to residents, the force of the water swept him to the Cricamola River, whose flow has increased due to the weather conditions. The body was located around 7:00 a.m. this Monday, April 13, by community members, who began the search from early hours. In Ñökribo, nine will be built, located in Kankintú, Kusapín, Jirondai, and Santa Catalina.
