With a rescue team scouring the Baru region to find five missing tourists and their “trained” guide, Jose Donderis director of Panama’s Civil Protection agency (SINAPROC)   has taken to Twitter to condemn those who ignore  precautionary weather warnings.

Sinaproc had issued a notice of 96 hours of heavy rains with associated risks of flash flooding and landslides lasting through Sunday.

Donderis is particularly upset at the irresponsibility of "trained" people offering tours that don’t safeguard the lives of their clients or respect the rescuers who must risk theirs.

He said on Sunday,  May 27: “ 48 hours ago we warned about the increase in rainfall and asked people to take preventive actions. At this moment we have activated the rescue team of the #FTChelp to find five tourists with a "guide" with problems on the Barú mountain.

They deserve responsibility and respect.