Q24N — The temporary closure of Panama’s Bridge of the Americas following the fire in La Boca is not only a safety measure, but also an event with potential economic and social impacts nationwide, urban planner Rodrigo Guardia told La Estrella de Panamá.
According to the specialist, the magnitude of the problem lies in the strategic role this infrastructure plays within the country’s transportation system. Guardia emphasizes that it is the most frequently used route for Panamanians to reach the capital city, with thousands of people crossing it every hour to work, study, or access services in the capital.
Therefore, its closure affects not only Panama Oeste, but also the entire network of provinces that depend on this connection for their daily economic activity.
The urban planner explained that, although the Centennial Bridge can serve as an alternate route, its capacity is limited compared to the volume of traffic normally handled by the Bridge of the Americas.
In fact, he warned that the latter handles approximately twice as many vehicles, which anticipates longer travel times, increased transportation costs, and additional strain on the existing road network.
The bridge’s closing was due to a large fire that broke out Monday afternoon in the La Boca area, near the Bridge of the Americas, where a tanker truck caught fire and the flames spread to a second similar vehicle.
The Panama Fire Department reported that at approximately 4:12 p.m., a fire was reported at the fuel depot located in the La Boca area of Balboa. The Director General of the Panama Fire Department (BCBRP), Víctor Raúl Álvarez, explained that the fire occurred near the Panama Oil Terminals S.A. (POTSA) company.
Álvarez stated that to extinguish the fire, they received support from the Panama Canal Authority, the Institutional Protection Service (SPI), and units from the Emergency Medical Service (SUME) and the Social Security Fund. A total of 75 personnel worked at the scene, 45 of whom were firefighters.
Álvarez reported that two firefighters suffered minor burns during the fire, and one person died after being trapped among the tanker trucks.