Flooding kills 8 in Panama

updated 5:57 p.m. ET Nov. 26, 2008

PANAMA CITY, Panama - Authorities said at least eight people died and four more were missing in flooding and landslides in western Panama.

Panama's national civil protection service said that all the deaths occurred in the Caribbean coast provinces of Bocas del Toro and Chiriqui, which have been battered by a week of heavy rains.

The service said in a statement Wednesday that authorities were sending food and medicines by plane to Bocas del Toro, which was largely cut off by mudslides.

In neighboring Costa Rica, about 5,000 people have been forced from their homes by flooding. Authorities there declared a state of emergency.

More from msnbc.com Obama on health care policy: ‘No free lunch’ Superbug slips through food-safety net Interactive: Top contenders at the British Open Timeline: Reliving NASA's glory days 'Half-Blood Prince' is strong warm-up for finale Traveling with your pet? Keep ’em safe

MORE FROM WEATHER

Weather Section Front

'Ike Dike' proposed along Texas coast   Extreme heat takes toll on Texas   Severe storms in Midwest, head east Wyoming tornado destroys homes, barns Tropical Storm Dolores forms; Carlos weakens Floodwaters drown 7 in bus in India Sandstorms, drought hobble once-fertile Iraq Weather Section Front   Add Weather headlines to your news reader: