A Fire Involving Three Trucks in La Boca has Affected Traffic on the Bridge of the Americas

A fire affected three tanker trucks at the La Boca depot in Balboa, in the Ancón district, directly beneath the Bridge of the Americas. Loud explosions, large plumes of smoke, and flames that reached the bridge were reported at the scene.  Traffic was suspended due to the fire.  As a preventative measure, the National Directorate of Traffic Operations decided to close vehicular traffic on the bridge while firefighters battled to control the blaze.  Lieutenant Colonel Ángel Delgado of the Panama Fire Department stated that at least four people were injured, two of them firefighters. One person, an employee of the company, died after being trapped between the tanker trucks. 

“We have achieved our goal of basically extinguishing the fire, containing it, and lowering the temperature because this is a fire that requires working gradually to reduce the heat. Unfortunately, we have two people injured with second-degree burns, both staff members, and we are told that a third person was unable to escape,” Delgado said.  Although the Fire Department indicated the need for a technical evaluation of the Bridge of the Americas, which was affected by the high temperatures, vehicular traffic was restored within an hour.  Deputy Commissioner Kevin Quiel, National Director of Traffic Operations (DNOT) of the National Police, assured that there is no danger to the large number of drivers who travel through the area. 

The lane reversal operation to expedite traffic towards West Panama remains in place.  “Traffic flow in both directions is open, the Fire Department has already given us authorization, the structure was checked and it was not affected in any way, so right now we are reopening the roads, which we kept closed for safety reasons, but right now vehicles are circulating,” Quiel said.  Specialized teams are carrying out intensive control and cooling work to prevent the spread of the fire and mitigate additional risks in the area. 

Access to the bridge has been closed again as seen above.  An hour later, the decision was announced to once again restrict access to the Bridge of the Americas as a measure to ensure the safety of drivers and pedestrians.  The Ministry of Public Works (MOP) indicates that the closure will be temporary, “while specialized technical teams carry out the corresponding structural inspection to verify the bridge’s condition. The results will be delivered this Tuesday afternoon, April 7,” the agency states.  “The road will remain closed until it is confirmed that traffic is completely safe,” the MOP statement emphasizes. 

Prosecutor’s Office Opens Investigation After Tanker Explosion Under the Bridge of the Americas

The fire occurred under the Bridge of the Americas. One person died and two firefighters were injured.  Following the explosion of several tanker trucks on the grounds of the Bridge of the Americas on the afternoon of April 6, which resulted in one death, an investigation was launched to determine the causes of the incident and establish possible responsibilities.  As part of the investigation, specialized teams are conducting technical inspections in the area, in addition to gathering evidence and conducting interviews to clarify what happened.

After Controlling the Fire, the Bridge of the Americas was Closed Again

The death of a person, allegedly an employee of the company Panama Oil Terminals, SA, has been confirmed.  The fire that broke out on Monday afternoon, April 6, in the La Boca area, under the Bridge of the Americas, was brought under control.  The road was subsequently reopened for about 40 minutes, but had to be closed again.

AMP Suspends Concession to POTSA Company after Fire Under the Bridge of the Americas

The general director of the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), Luis Roquebert, announced the suspension of the concession of the port area affected by a fire that occurred this Monday, April 6, which forced the closure of the Bridge of the Americas. Following the incident, Roquebert indicated that the concession would be suspended as a measure to guarantee a thorough and effective investigation. He emphasized that the agency maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward security incidents.

This is how the Lane Reversal will be this Tuesday April 7 after the Closure of the Bridge of the Americas

Faced with the total closure of traffic in both directions on the Bridge of the Americas, the Transit and Land Transportation Authority (ATTT) launched a contingency plan based on reversing lanes on the Centenario highway to maintain mobility between Panama City and West Panama.

The Ministry of Education relaxes School Schedule after fire forced the Closure of the Bridge of the Americas

The Ministry of Education (Meduca) announced that it will make the educational and administrative schedule more flexible for Tuesday, April 7, as a preventive measure against the disruptions to mobility caused by the closure of the Las Américas bridge, a structure that will undergo a structural inspection.  The measure applies to students, teachers, administrative staff and Meduca officials who reside in or travel from West Panama to the capital.

What does the Pathological Inspection of the Bridge of the Americas after the Fire Consist of?

The Minister of Public Works (MOP), José Luis Andrade, confirmed tonight that the closure of the Bridge of the Americas was ordered after a tanker truck caught fire on Monday afternoon.  The inspection will begin at 8:00 am on Tuesday, April 7th.

Mitradel Urges Companies to Implement Teleworking due to Transportation Difficulties

The Ministry of Labor and Workforce Development (Mitradel) urged companies to adopt measures that guarantee the well-being of workers, following the damage caused by the fire on Monday, April 6, under the Bridge of the Americas.  They also urged flexibility in work start times, especially for employees who live in West Panama and work in the capital, as well as for those who live in the city and work in the western sector.