Lightning strike kills three in Panama's Ngäbe Buglé; heavy rains hit Bocas del Toro and Chiriquí

A powerful lightning strike killed three people and injured two others in Panama's Ngäbe Buglé region, authorities reported. The incident occurred in the Playa Zapotal sector of Besikó district when lightning hit a home during an intense storm.

The severe weather, characterized by heavy rains, strong winds, and thunderstorms, has affected multiple provinces across the country. The National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc) confirmed its response teams are in the affected area to provide assistance and assess the damage.

Preliminary reports indicate significant damage in Chiriquí, Bocas del Toro, Veraguas, and Ngäbe Buglé. This includes homes losing roofs, roads blocked by fallen trees, and communities experiencing flooding. In Chiriquí, at least three homes suffered roof damage, and five incidents of trees falling on roads were reported, some of which downed power lines.

Bocas del Toro also experienced severe flooding, with approximately thirty homes inundated in the Finca 4 settlement. Authorities are actively assessing the full impact of the storm, with Sinaproc monitoring river levels, including the Sixaola River, which has seen an increase in its flow.