Powerful waves and severe weather are eroding the coastline of Panama’s Province of Colón, threatening to wash graves out to sea. Residents of the coastal community of Gobea have been forced to exhume more than 25 caskets to prevent them from being lost to the Caribbean.
The crisis is centered in Gobea, part of the Donoso District along Panama’s Caribbean coast. Persistent storm conditions have driven unusually strong surf directly into the community’s cemetery and residential areas. Local reports confirm at least 20 homes have also sustained structural damage from the relentless waves.
Community Organizes Emergency Response
Faced with the immediate danger, residents organized their own emergency recovery effort. Working in difficult conditions, families worked to retrieve the remains of loved ones for relocation to safer ground. The situation has caused profound distress within the small community, which is now pleading for government assistance.
Officials are monitoring the deteriorating situation. The National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) has been alerted to the escalating damage in the region. There is growing concern that forecasted weather could worsen coastal erosion in the coming days.
“We are facing an emergency that requires immediate attention. The force of the sea does not stop, and our community’s history is literally being washed away,” said one local resident, who participated in the recovery. [Translated from Spanish]
The impacted cemetery sits on the eroding shoreline of the Caribbean Sea. Satellite imagery and local accounts show a significant portion of the burial ground has already been undercut by the surf. This event highlights the increasing vulnerability of Panama’s coastal settlements to extreme weather and rising sea levels.
Authorities have not yet released an official damage assessment or a timeline for aid. Community leaders stress the need for urgent intervention to protect both the remaining gravesites and the damaged homes. They fear further erosion could lead to complete destruction of the cemetery and more property loss.
Panama’s meteorological service continues to issue alerts for the Caribbean coast. The agency warns of high tides and strong swells expected to persist. For the residents of Gobea, each new wave brings more uncertainty and loss.