# El Niño emergency in Panama

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/el-nio-emergency-in-panama
> Updated: 2026-09-09T00:00:00.000Z. Sources: 13. Developments: 2.

Panama has declared a national state of emergency in response to the severe impacts of the El Niño phenomenon. The government is seeking to expedite resource allocation to address widespread water shortages, droughts, floods, and landslides.

Technical assessments indicate that 11 watersheds have reached historically low levels, which threatens hydroelectric power generation and water purification plants. The agricultural sector is experiencing significant uncertainty, with some rice producers reporting losses between 15% and 16% of national production. Additionally, public health officials have warned that high temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns may increase the risk of dengue fever and gastrointestinal diseases.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-09: Extreme weather impacts Panama crops and Bolivia water supplies

Heavy rains are causing crop emergencies in Panama's Ngäbe-Buglé region, while a severe drought is depleting the Boba River in Bolivia, threatening water supplies for several communities.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/extreme-weather-impacts-panama-crops-and-bolivia-water-supplies

### 2026-08-26: Panama declares national state of emergency due to El Niño

Panama has declared a national state of emergency due to El Niño, facing critical water shortages, agricultural risks, and potential public health threats from disease outbreaks.

10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/panama-declares-national-state-of-emergency-due-to-el-nio

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Cite as: El Niño emergency in Panama. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/el-nio-emergency-in-panama