Panama Canal closed

Maritime traffic through the Panama Canal, which connects the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, was suspended yesterday because of heavy rain.



The canal authority said the rains had pushed water levels in lakes that form part of the canal to historic highs, potentially affecting shipping.



This is the first time the canal has had to be closed since the US invasion of Panama in 1989.



Yesterday, canal authorities had to open flood gates to reduce the water level in one of the lakes.



Around 14,000 ships pass through the Panama Canal each year, representing about 5 per cent of world trade.



Passage through sections of the waterway has been suspended in recent years because of accidents, but the entire operations had never been halted.