interior

Homes remain vulnerable to flooding

Work on a breakwater in the community of Palmas Bellas has yet to begin, leaving homes exposed.

la prensa

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Heavy rains in recent days caused further alarm in the coastal community of Palmas Bellas, in the province of Colón.

The community has already lost several houses along the sea because of coastal erosion caused by flooding. A total of 30 houses have been heavily damaged or destroyed by flooding in the past four years.

A week ago, the government announced that a breakwater would be built to minimize the effect of waves on the shoreline. The project is being financed by the Colón Free Zone.

Humberto Góndola, regional director of the Ministry of Public Works, indicated that many houses in the area still remain vulnerable to the effects of flooding, and that the project can not start in earnest until heavy equipment and materials are made available.

He said that he expects the equipment to arrive next week, and that surveyors have started to map out where the breakwater should be installed.

People in the community have been asking for help for years in addressing the flooding problem. That problem, however, has recently gotten much worse. In recent weeks, eight houses have been damaged by flooding.