Local communities vow to fight new Panama Canal reservoir

Magdalena Martinez’s community is under threat as a proposed dam along the Indio River could disrupt their livelihoods and way of life, with locals warning of potential displacement and loss of local farming dependence. The project, designed to protect the Panama Canal from droughts, has drawn criticism from nearby villages and civil society groups, which warn of broader environmental and long-term impacts if constructed. Meanwhile, President Jose Raul Mulino’s support contrasts with these concerns, highlighting the delicate balance between economic development and community preservation in one of Panama’s most rural areas.