Explosion at the bridge over the Panama Canal

A tanker truck explosion in Panama City on Monday left one person dead and several others injured, authorities said.

The incident occurred in the La Boca area, near the Panama Oil Terminals S.A. facility and beneath the Bridge of the Americas, where a tanker truck exploded while refueling, triggering a fire that spread to two other tanker trucks and caused thick smoke and multiple secondary explosions, reports said.

Fire department chief Victor Raul Alvarez Villalobos said one person was killed, two others suffered second-degree burns and two firefighters were injured from smoke inhalation. The fire has been brought under control, and the injured are in stable condition. An investigation into the cause of the accident is expected to begin on Tuesday.

Authorities closed the bridge following the incident and plan to conduct structural safety inspections.