Panama registered a 34% increase in homicides during the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, according to figures from the Public Ministry (MP).

In total, 134 homicides have been recorded between January and March an increase of 28  compared to the same period in 2022.

Firearms were used in 75% of the killings,10% were carried out with a knife, 5% with a blunt object, 2% due to suffocation, and 8% undetermined.

Panama leads the statistics with a total of 51 homicides, followed by San Miguelito with 36, Colón with 26, and Panamá Oeste with 12. Chiriquí and Coclé both provinces have 4, while Darién, Herrera and Veraguas have 3. .

Los Santos is the province with the fewest homicides until March, with only 1.

In addition, the report reveals that the most affected age group is people between 18 and 34 years of age, with a total of 69 homicides. 93% of the victims are men and 7% are women.