Massive explosion near Bridge of the Americas in Panama

A massive explosion rocked a fuel terminal beside the Bridge of the Americas in Panama, producing a huge fireball and towering columns of black smoke near the landmark crossing. The incident, reported in La Boca, Balboa, forced the immediate shutdown of traffic on the bridge, one of the country's most vital transport links. Although the explosion did not occur directly on the bridge, flames billowing beneath the structure raised concerns over its structural integrity.

Panama's fire service stated that the emergency was first reported at around 4:12 p.m. local time, and that crews arriving at the scene found multiple trucks ablaze, along with additional tanks under threat. Reinforcements from several stations were called in as firefighters battled to prevent the flames from spreading further. Reports indicated that a tanker blast near the bridge ignited the fire, which spread to two additional storage units at the Balboa tank facility.

Officials confirmed that two people with second-degree burns were rescued during the operation and treated by firefighters. Later local reports said one person was confirmed dead and two firefighters were injured while tackling the blaze. Emergency teams also searched for a possible trapped person and carried out cooling operations to manage the situation.

Transit across the Bridge of the Americas was suspended as emergency teams worked at the scene and inspectors assessed whether the intense heat may have affected the structure. The public was urged to avoid the Balboa area and keep routes clear for emergency vehicles, with social media videos showing the scale of the fire and smoke visible from a distance.