A powerful explosion beneath Panama’s Bridge of the Americas near the Panama Canal has left one person dead and four injured, including two firefighters. The blast, caused by a fuel tanker fire, triggered a massive inferno that engulfed nearby vehicles and sent flames and smoke billowing toward a passing bus. Authorities confirmed the deceased was likely an employee of the tanker company, while the injured are reported to be out of danger.
Firefighters took three hours to extinguish the blaze, which involved multiple tanker trucks. Over 70 firefighters and 45 emergency vehicles responded to the scene. Panama’s Ministry of Public Works has dispatched technical teams to inspect the bridge’s structural integrity, with results expected Tuesday (April 7). The bridge remains closed until it is deemed safe for traffic.
Investigators are still determining the cause of the fire, though initial reports suggest it originated from a tanker truck. The explosion sent shockwaves through the area, with passengers on a nearby bus fleeing as flames and smoke approached. No immediate claims of responsibility or foul play have been made.