Gun-toting rioters bring chaos to Panama's Atlantic Sector canal zone

ROAD and highway access in the Atlantic Sector of Panama has been closed due to violent demonstrations and rioting by groups protesting government land sales.

So far, neither port operations nor Panama Canal Traffic have been affected, as pilots and personnel are being mobilised by water as the roads are currently blocked.

GAC-Wilford & McKay personnel have been evacuated as a security measure and the office, but continues with a skeleton staff, reports GAC Port News.

Panama Guide reports there have been "shootings, burning tyres, tear gas, police raids and bird shot everywhere" in protest of a bill allowing the government to sell the lands of the Colon Free Trade Zone.

The Guide editor advised: "Avoid downtown Colon city and the province of Colon for the coming days at all costs. There should be no valid reason to venture into Colon unless it is an absolute emergency (life and death). If that's the case, then the person who needs help should seek the authorities and be evacuated in an ambulance. I imagine that sooner or later today the US Embassy in Panama City will get around to issuing some sort of an alert or warning, if they have not done so already."