Bridge over Panama Canal closed after a truck explosion kills 1 person
[April 08, 2026]
PANAMA CITY (AP) — The explosion of a fuel truck at the base of a
bridge over the Panama Canal has left one person dead and prompted
Panamanian authorities to close the span while firefighters investigate
the accident and engineers assess the damage.
The blast on Panama’s Bridge of the Americas took place about 4 p.m. on
Monday, and security camera footage captured a massive fireball rising
toward the top of the bridge that connects Panama’s capital with an
airport and numerous suburbs to the west. Several cars were on the
bridge during the explosion but their drivers were not hurt by the
flames. |
A firefighter sprays water on gas trucks that caught fire after several
exploded under Las Americas Bridge next to the Panama Canal in Panama
City, Panama, Monday, April 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) |
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Authorities said that one fuel truck worker died in the
explosion. Two firefighters were injured as they extinguished
the flames.
“We have no confirmation of any other people injured,” said
Víctor Raúl Álvarez, director of Panama’s Fire Department. He
added that the investigation is in its early stages and that the
cause of the explosion has not yet been determined.
Engineers warned the fire may have affected the integrity of the
decades-old bridge, a key link between Panama City and the west
of the country.
Panama’s Public Works Ministry posted a video on social media
Tuesday showing engineers surveying the site for structural
damage. Meanwhile, Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino took to X
to warn that the closing of the bridge would “cause disruption”
and said “We hope to return to normal as soon as possible.”
“The Bridge of the Americas is a structure that is over 60 years
old. Due to the effects of the fire, if the metal structure was
subjected to excessively high temperatures, it may have
sustained damage,” said Edwin Lewis, an engineer at the
ministry.
Specialized teams were conducting evaluations of concrete and
metal components. Officials said the bridge would remain closed
until its safety can be confirmed.
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