WHILE  THE nation’s Civil Defense System, Sinaproc has issued a five day green flood alert the number of people affected by the overflow of the rivers Chiriquí Viejo, Chico and other tributaries, in the province of Chiriqui, has climbed to  near 500.

According to Sinaproc  , 499 people and 144 houses were affected in Barú and Alanje.

Francisco Santamaria, regional director of Sinaproc, said that in Barú 69 houses were broken down as follows: 30 houses in Majagual; 30 houses in Rodolfo Aguilar and Almendro Acueducto; 9 houses in Almendro Settlement.

In the district there are 240 people affected after water entered their homes, reaching a height of about three feet.

In  the Alanje sector, 29 houses were reported, specifically in Majagual and 35 houses affected in Orillas del Río.

In this district there are 259 people whose  homes have been Santamaria said that on Thursday 169 people moved to four shelters that opened in Barú and Alanje.