Breakdown leaves 9 lakh Panamanians without water ;As many as 900000 people were left without drinking water when a valve broke on a pipe linked to Panama City's biggest supplier of potable water, officials said on Thursday.

 High water pressure ruptured the valve on a 12-inch diameter pipe leading to the Chilibre water treatment plant north of the city, they said.

"The break is relatively small but we have had to stop operations at the water plant to control the water pressure," said Rodrigo Barragan, an official with the Institute of National Aqueducts and Sewers.

He said 800,000 to 900,000 people living in Panama City and adjacent areas were affected by the shutdown late on wednesday.

Schools and universities suspended classes because of the lack of water.

Authorities said the flow of water would return to normal on Thursday.