Within a few hours, one of the country's main connections was compromised, affecting the mobility of thousands of Panamanians, economic activity, and the normal functioning of the city," the guild's weekly message, La Voz de Apede, highlights. It is emphasized that beyond the incident, a fire involving several fuel tankers on the grounds below the bridge, whose flames reached part of the structure, left a signal that can no longer be ignored. "Panama still lacks clear and coordinated protocols to respond to emergencies in strategic infrastructure." Apede emphasizes that what was seen on the Bridge of the Americas was the effort of different entities trying to resolve a complex situation, but without a previously defined protocol. The guild warns that this causes delays, uncertainty, and a greater impact on citizens. In this situation, Apede expressed its support for the initiative presented by the Executive to discuss a norm on Critical Infrastructure and Essential Services, with the aim of strengthening the country's response to situations that could compromise its functioning. "This initiative proposes something fundamental: to establish a clear framework to protect, secure, and guarantee the continuity of the infrastructure that supports the country's operation," Apede highlighted. Last Monday, April 6, in the La Boca sector, three fuel tankers exploded and caused a large fireball that reached the lower part of the vehicular structure. The Panamanian Association of Business Executives (Apede) warned that the country does not have clear protocols to address emergencies in strategic structures. "What happened on the Bridge of the Americas, besides being a lamentable event, was a warning signal. The explosion and fire left one dead and two firefighters injured. It is planned that the Panamanian authorities will reveal this Monday, April 13, the report on the inspection that was carried out on the bridge's structure.
