Panama Canal opens after flood forced closure

GAMBOA, Panama The passageway had to be closed to ships on Wednesday as it swelled with flood waters.

That was only the third shutdown in the canal's 96-year history and the first due to bad weather.

Meteorologists said the region received its heaviest rains ever since they began keeping records 73 years ago.

At least eight people have been killed and more than 1,000 had to be evacuated due to the flooding.