PANAMA CITY, Nov 27, 2008 (Xinhua via COMTEX News Network) -- A group of 16 Costa Rican tourists were rescued Thursday from the disaster area in the Panamanian province of Bocas del Toro, which has been isolated by flood.
Costa Rican Consul in David City Victor Carvajal said the tourists were brought to safety by a plane of the Colombian Air Force performing humanitarian aid mission.
Carvajal also thanked the aid and rescue groups.
Authorities of the Panamanian National System of Civil Protection (Sinaproc) said the Costa Ricans were the last group of 100 foreign tourists trapped in that zone.
Sinaproc said the number of victims has risen to 21,427.
On Thursday, the Panamanian authorities set up maritime and aerial links to the disaster zone to deliver humanitarian aid, including water, food, medicine, clothes and machines to rebuild the roads.