Obarrio tower explosion from gas stove – report

An explosion in an Obarrio apartment tower that injured 20 people, one seriously and the evacuation of 600 residents was of the  “chemical” type says an expert report, of the Panama Firefighters, released Monday.

The explosion in the PH Urbana occurred in November 2022 and the fuel detected was liquefied urban petroleum gas, according to the reading given by Colonel Abdiel Solís Pérez.

The explosion was classified as a “deflagration”, since a substance burned suddenly, without explosion but with flames.

The kitchen of apartment 12C-2 was determined to be the area of origin of the explosion.

“The stove, as the epicenter of the explosion, is related to cause and effect due to damage vectors and dynamics of the pressure wave evidenced at the scene,” Solís commented.

In total, 600 people were evacuated, including residents of the building and nearby buildings, including commercial premises. Authorities transferred 300 people to temporary multifamily housing.