Flooding in Panama causes Canal to close

The Panama Canal has only closed down two other times in it's 96-year history. On Wednesday heavy rains caused it flood and shut down. The Canal runs 48 miles long and is an important element for shipping between the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean. The canal was closed down until Thursday evening (17hours later). This rain is expected to come and go throughout the next few months. Every year during winter seasons heavy rains ruins crops and roads, but this time it had it highest record.
Floods can damage a lot of homes and make people go missing or kill others. This flood did some damage to homes around surrounding rivers, about 50 people order to leave their homes, only three missing, and 8 dead in central America. It also created lost revenue for some whose ship couldn't get through. Now that the waters are lower ships can travel through and people can return to their homes. The Panamanian people need to be prepare for the rains this season as predicted to be heavy than normal.

In this picture above you can see how high the canal is by looking at the surrounding trees. 

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/12/08/panama.canal.closed/index.html
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2010/12/10/Panama-Canal-closed-due-to-flood-reopens/UPI-43211291963866/
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/12/201012962741835420.html