Hurricane Otto kills 3 in Panama, expected to hit Central America Thursday

PANAMA CITY, Panama, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- At least three people in Panama died in severe weather caused by Hurricane Otto, with the storm expected to make landfall sometime early Thursday in Costa Rica or Nicaragua, officials say.

The rare Thanksgiving storm caught many off guard, but is expected to hit Central America Thursday, with heavy rain, flooding and mudslides among the greatest threat from Otto, which is expected to make landfall as a Category 1 storm.

A hurricane warning was issued Tuesday evening from Limon, Costa Rica, to Bluefields, Nicaragua, with a hurricane watches in effect for Nicaragua north of Bluefields to Sandy Bay Sirpi and for Costa Rica south of Limon to the border between Costa Rica and Panama.

"We regret the death of three people -- product of the climatic conditions generated by the Tropical Storm Otto," Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela said during a press conference. "We ask for calm from the public and to take necessary precautionary measures."

Emergency officials in Panama declared a red alert covering Panama's Caribbean coast in three provinces and a yellow alert for the rest of the country.

"With the red alert for these three provinces, available resources are mobilized to emergency care," Jose Donderis, director general of Panama's National Civil Protection System, said during the press conference. "We ask the population to keep informed by state communications that emit information."

Panama's Ministry of Education said it has suspended classes nationwide due to "heavy rains generated by the Tropical Storm Otto."

Panama's presidential office said Varela has contacted the families of those who died.

"Otto is stationary and a westward drift is expected to begin later today, followed by a faster westward motion on Wednesday," the NHC said Tuesday. "On the forecast track, Otto should be approaching the coasts of Nicaragua and Costa Rica on Thursday."

Up to 20 inches of rain could fall in northern Costa Rica and southern Nicaragua through Thursday.

"These rains will likely result in life-threatening flash floods and mud slides," the NHC added.