Panama City, Panama—The sky opened up just after dawn. Drainage systems in the city core could not handle the volume of water. Streets turned into rivers within an hour.

The force of the water was immense. It surged through commercial districts, smashing through glass windows and heavy metal doors. Multiple storefronts were hollowed out by the sudden current.

Police have closed major thoroughfares across the city. Vehicles are trapped in deep pools of muddy water. Rescue crews are using boats to reach people stranded in their cars.

Shop owners are now wading through the wreckage. They are trying to salvage what little inventory remains. The damage is extensive and visible on every corner.

City officials are struggling to organize a response. The scale of the flooding has overwhelmed existing emergency protocols. Most of the downtown sector is currently inaccessible to normal traffic.

We are seeing structural damage to buildings near the waterfront. The sheer weight of the debris being carried by the water is causing further havoc. The sound of smashing storefronts is constant.

Utility lines are snapping under the stress of the floodwaters. Power is out in large sections of the capital. Residents are being warned to avoid the downtown area entirely.

Heavy equipment is being brought in to clear the blocked drainage channels. It is a slow, difficult process. The water level is not receding as quickly as experts anticipated.

The cleanup phase has not yet begun. The threat of additional rain looms over the city.