On the Road to El Cacao Panama a Bridge Collapses in Capira
This Saturday, March 14, a bridge collapsed in the district of Capira, province of Panama Oeste, in the township of Villa del Carmen, on the road leading to Cacao.
Residents of the Villa del Carmen community in Capira have been cut off after the collapse of the bridge that connected their area to rural areas of West Panama. The structure could not withstand the weight of an articulated truck crossing the bridge, collapsing and leaving the vehicle overturned in the Perequeté River.
Bridge Collapses in Villa del Carmen de Capira Leaving the Aarea Cut Off
The driver of the vehicle escaped unharmed. The community is now on edge and worried, as this road is heavily used by local farmers to transport their crops to markets. According to reports, the bridge was in an advanced state of disrepair. This bridge is crucial for connecting the Pan-American Highway with the communities of La Trinidad, El Cacao, Ciricito Arriba, Ciricito Abajo, Los Chorros, Nuevo Paraíso, Arenas Blancas, La Bonga Arriba, and La Bonga Abajo.
“The incident occurred when a cargo truck attempted to cross the structure, despite the fact that the bridge had visible signage establishing a maximum load restriction of 10 tons. According to the evidence observed at the site, the vehicle involved was a heavy cargo truck that exceeded the permitted capacity of the structure,” the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) stated.
The Area will Remain Shut Down
Personnel from the National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc) arrived at the scene of the accident and cordoned off the area with road closure signs. The area will remain closed off with Jersey barriers for the time being as a safety measure for drivers and residents. The Ministry of Public Works (MOP) reminds the public that there is currently an alternate route that allows the transit of light vehicles through Central Street, located approximately at kilometer 9.5 of the Pan-American Highway, taking kilometer 0 from La Espiga as a reference; however, this route is not suitable for the passage of production trucks or heavy cargo transport. Congressman Eduardo Vásquez, who also visited the site, noted that the bridge rehabilitation project was included in improvement plans.
The bridge collapsed as an articulated truck was crossing it in Capira. The driver escaped injury.
