Chiriquí, Panama—A massive landslide buried a residential structure in the highlands of Chiriquí early Thursday, killing one person. Constant rainfall throughout the week saturated the mountainside, eventually causing the slope to give way under its own weight. Civil protection teams recovered the victim’s body from the mud just after dawn.

The slide destroyed the home entirely and pushed debris across a local transit route, effectively cutting off access to the nearby community. Emergency services had issued warnings regarding ground saturation earlier in the week. Residents in the area had been advised to monitor their surroundings for signs of movement.

Rescue crews are currently navigating through unstable terrain to ensure no other residents are trapped. The mud is deep and contains large boulders, making the use of heavy machinery difficult. Search dogs have been deployed to scan the primary debris field for any further survivors

Regional authorities have ordered an immediate evacuation of four additional homes that show signs of structural shifting. These families are being moved to a temporary shelter established at a local community center. The governor of Chiriquí has arrived on-site to coordinate the relief efforts.

This province is particularly vulnerable to slides due to its steep topography and persistent tropical weather. Municipal engineers are assessing whether illegal land clearing for agriculture contributed to the severity of the slope failure. Stricter building codes for highland areas are expected to be debated in the coming weeks.

Communication services are limited as power poles were knocked down during the earth movement. Engineers from the electric company are on standby, waiting for the site to be declared safe before they begin repair work. The road remains closed to all civilian traffic.

Neighbors of the victim are assisting in the cleanup, moving what they can of their belongings to higher ground. The regional civil defense office has requested additional supplies, including food and water, for those displaced by the event.

Officials expect the search and recovery phase to continue through the night if conditions allow. The weather forecast remains unfavorable, with further rain expected to hit the region within twenty-four hours.