A powerful explosion and fire occurred in Panama under the Bridge of the Americas, which crosses the Panama Canal. The incident happened on the afternoon of April 6 near the southern part of the canal, in the La Boca area.
Initially, it was reported that the explosion might have occurred on a tanker, but it was later revealed that it actually originated on shore — on the territory of a fuel terminal. As a result, tanker trucks caught fire, after which the flames spread to other tanks. The fire reached the bridge structures and damaged them.
As a result of the incident, at least one person died, and several others were injured, including rescuers and civilians. The fire was successfully extinguished, and more than 75 firefighters were involved in its elimination.
After the explosion, traffic on the Bridge of the Americas was temporarily blocked, and specialists began checking its condition. Technical tests are planned to determine whether it is safe to continue using the bridge.
Despite the incident, the Panama Canal continues to operate normally — shipping has not been disrupted. Authorities emphasized that the canal is open and there are no restrictions on vessel movement.
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