Heavy rains in the early half of August followed by storm rains and winds on 10 September, resulting in flooding and landslides, have caused considerable damage to housing and infrastructure in the Caribbean coastal province of Colon. Some fishing villages are reported to have been seriously affected by the adverse weather. By contrast, an irregular rainfall pattern has affected the important paddy producing province of Chiriqui, particularly in the Alanje and Banj� areas, thus inflicting serious losses to crops. Rice is one of the main food staples and even if the country is virtually self sufficient, some imports would be required to compensate for the losses incurred, which in localized areas have reached 70 per cent of the expected outturn.