Fire in mall forces thousands to flee

THOUSANDS of shoppers were evacuated from Albrook Mall late afternoon, Wednesday. March 13, when fire broke out in one of the warehouses.

After over three hours Lieutenant  Cruz Gomez,  said the situation was ugly and the blaze, in a winery was still not under control. Earlier in the day he had been one of the firefighters blocking Ave Cuba to protest lack of implementation of agreements on wages and conditions.

Authorities asked drivers to avoid the area. Early reports said the fire started in the Madison Store. Columns of smoke  from the fire could be seen across the city.

Albrook Mall is also a major public transport hub and the Mibus company was forced to move the arrival and departure location to the road leading to the Dinosuar hall where Leonardo’s Pizzeria and the Sports Factory and Panama Hats stores are sited.
In December 2007 a fire at that mall resulted in 12 injuries.