By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - I had to go over to immigration this morning, and saw a commotion as I approached. Apparently an elderly gentleman, who had to be at least 80 years old or so, got hit by a taxi as he tried to cross the street. According to the cab driver the guy just walked into the intersection, and he was hit by the side of the car. The taxi stopped immediately, rendered assistance, and called the police. I got there just as the ambulance had pulled up and they loaded the guy on a stretcher. He didn't seem to be hurt that bad and he wasn't bleeding. But hey, when you're 80 years all, they're all hard knocks.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

The Public Ministry is working to determine who is responsible for the fire in the banking district that destroyed more than 20 cars and damaged a building. An investigation has been opened to determine if the incident was intentionally caused. The explosion and fire occurred when an LPG tanker truck from the Tropigas company was preparing to refill a gas tank of a restaurant in the building, but before the driver could begin to deliver fuel there was a massive leak in one of the valves, causing the release of the propane gas and causing the fire. The Auxiliary Prosecutor is investigating the case in order to clarify whether there was any intentional cause. The case is in the Division of Crimes against the Collective Security. (Source: Telemetro Reporta)

Editor's Comment: Again, I have it, I know what happened and why, but I can't talk about it yet, and I have to wait until the information gets into the public through some other means. So in the meantime, here's me, sitting on my hands...   

More than 5.600 more police officers have been deployed throughout Panama, and of these about 500 are guarding houses and protecting the private property of citizens, according to the Director of the National Police, Gustavo Perez. "There are officers working in different operational areas so that citizens can enjoy the carnival festivities safely," said Perez, while he reminded the community in general adhere to "neighborhood watch" program, which allows for neighbors to help keep an eye on your house while you're enjoying Carnival in the interior. Perez asks the population in general to act wisely for the welfare of the country and their families. "Don't do anything you will regret tomorrow," he said. Perez also said they continue to work hard against the wave of crime and insecurity gripping the country, his afternoon in an interview given on RPC Radio. (Source: La Estrella)    

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - I went to a meeting with the fire department's office of Safety and Inspection this morning to deliver the photos and video I had taken, and to update them on what I had learned independently. Let's just say that my earlier article, LPG Tanker Truck Fire in Panama City - Detailed Description of Events (Chronological Order), had the details right on the money. The massive leak and spill occurred when the driver got out of the cab and activated the pump. I now know exactly what failed and why, however I have an obligation to withhold that information from public release until the Office of Safety and Inspection sees fit to put it into the public. If I published that information now it would be a breech of the trust I have earned with them. There are also legal issues of responsibility to be addressed which will be part of another, possibly criminal, investigation. Anyway, at this point you can read the earlier article and know that it's right on, and the only thing missing is one small little detail that will most likely come out in the next day or so. However, it's an important detail because it answers the questions of "why" and "how did this happen." Stay tuned.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

The Fire Department of Panama (CBP) continued this morning with their inspection of the "America" building located in the banking area, where an explosion occurred Tuesday. According to CBP personnel they are now working to determine whether the explosion was caused by human error or a mechanical failure, and their investigations are aimed directly at that. Firefighters said on the TVN Noticias said the "torch" that came from the truck on the day of the explosion was caused by a gas leak, produced due to heating inside of the tank. A pressure release value activated to release the pressure inside of the tank and therefore kept the tank from bursting, firefighters said. However, a preliminary report from the Security Office of the CBP, which La Prensa had access to, said that a malfunction in one of the two valves on the Tropigas tank truck may be the possible cause of the explosion. Personnel from the Assa Insurance Company, responsible for compensating those affected by the explosion and fire, also went to the inspection this morning. (Source: La Prensa)   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Late yesterday afternoon I had a long conversation with a person in the United States who is intimately familiar with the construction, use, and operation of the LPG tanker trucks of the type involved in the fire in the banking district of Panama City on Tuesday. Later this morning I will be meeting with the officers who work in the fire department's Office of Safety and Security who are responsible for investigating incidents such as this and preparing an official incident report. At this point I think I have a pretty clear understanding of how this incident occurred and progressed. I will run through my version of the scenario quickly for you all, then I'm off to meet with the fire department to deliver the details to them. This is how it went down. (more) (Note - I'm publishing the text now and working to add the photos)   Click Here To Read The Full Article (2,322 words)

Abelardo Marcos Matos, one of the people who was injured as a result of the explosion and fire in the banking district of Panama City Tuesday afternoon, is hospitalized and in stable condition. The medical authorities of the Santo Tomas hospital said the patient suffered burns on his neck, face, arms and legs, and he remains sedated but conscious. Meanwhile, the Tropigas company has already contacted his family members, according to statements made by his wife to TVN Channel 2 news. Representatives from the company went to the burn unit at the Santo Tomas hospital to provide the necessary support. Abelardo was entering a restaurant when an explosion occurred, produced by the LPG tanker truck that was preparing to deliver gas to the tank of a restaurant located in the America building. (Source: TVN Noticias)

Editor's Comment: It looks like this guy was not an employee of the company, but rather just a guy who was about to go into the restaurant when the explosion occurred. From my own investigation, I know that liquid fuel spilled from the truck and ran down the street like water until it found an ignition source. At that point the heavy gas that had evaporated off of the running liquid exploded violently, which was the first of three explosions. Apparently this man was caught in the first blast. It's a miracle that he survived at all - that was one hell of an explosion.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Here are a few videos uploaded to Youtube, shot from an apartment in the area where the Tropigas LPG tanker caught fire yesterday afternoon, in the banking district behind the Marriott hotel. I've got a few that I shot myself that I'm working to upload right now. There's on playing on Telemetro which shows a geyser of flame shooting at least 150 feet into the air.









Link to Video on Telemetro

   

The general director of Panama's National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC), Arturo Alvarado, said he would meet today with Panama City Mayor Bosco Vallarino to discuss the explosion and explosion caused by an LPG tank in the banking area yesterday. At about 1:52 p.m. yesterday an LPG tank truck from the Tropigas company suffered an accident while the truck's crew was making a deliver to a restaurant in the area, spilling liquefied petroleum which cause several explosions and fires. The incident caused considerable damage in the building as well as vehicles that were parked in the area, and the force of the explosion blew out some window in surrounding buildings. Allen said that although you can not stop the development of the country, extreme measures must be taken to ensure a similar situation does not occur again some time in the future. "The country's development must go hand in hand with the safety and security of the Panamanian people," said Alvarado during an interview on TVN Channel 2. (Source: La Prensa)   Click Here To Read The Full Article (1 words)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - At about 7:40 pm I heard a series of several loud explosions. I don't know what's going on yet, but I fear the Tropigas tanker truck that was being transported out of the city exploded again. I'm heading over that way now to find out what happened. There was at least four or five very loud explosions. This is one case where I wish I couldn't say "I told you so." Crap... (Update: 8:24 am 10 Feb - False alarm. When I left the office last night I went back to the fire scene, and police officers there told me the "explosions" I heard were just fireworks. Thank God. I was thinking so much about that damaged LPG gas tanker and the fact that they were hauling it through town on a flatbed tow truck at exactly that same time, that my mind was "tuned" to hear it go boom. Anyway, luckily it was nothing to be concerned about.)

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - At approximately 2:00 pm this afternoon a 3,000 pound gas tanker truck from the Tropigas company exploded in the banking area, right behind the Marriot Hotel. The truck was carrying liquefied petroleum gas. and the crew was about to start to refuel a 500 pound gas tank belonging to a restaurant in a building called La America. Apparently the crew had not yet started the refueling process because the hose was still completely on the roll - they had not yet made the connection to start to refill the tank. Apparently there was a leak of liquid LPG gas that ran down the street in liquid form. There were three explosions, approximately 40 seconds to one minute apart. The explosion lit the adjacent building on fire. I got a quick call from Russ on Skype (thanks) and the scene was only a couple of blocks from my office, so I grabbed my camera bag and ran down there. The first photo I took at the scene was at 2:14 so I got there relatively quickly. I set up shot right behind the Marriott Hotel building in a parking lot and started taking photos and video. About two minutes later I saw Major Fluvio Aizpurua who is the Chief of the Office of Safety and Inspection for the Fire Department of Panama. He said "Don, thank God you're here. Listen, need your help. I need you to take some pictures for me, for the investigation. Grab a helmet..." (more) Click Here For Slide Show of Photos From Fire Scene    Click Here To Read The Full Article (1,410 words)

Two masked men armed, entered the house of a family in Las Lajas in Las Cumbres and took away computers, luxury watches, other valuables, and cash, after killing two dogs. So far no arrests have been made. Neighbors in the area told TVN News that is not the first time this kind of robbery has happened, although most of the houses are participating in the neighborhood watch program. Some of the houses have taken extreme security measures such as with the installation of razor wire, tall fences, and surveillance cameras, but residence agree there should be more police patrols in the area. (Source: TVN Noticas)   

The regional office of the National Civil Protection System in Colon ordered the closure of Devil's Beach on Fort Sherman in Panama where two people drowned last weekend. Jaime Ospina, SINAPROC regional director, said the beach area was cordoned off and swimmers are forbidden from using the area because it's not safe. According to the official, they will coordinate with other sectors of security to prevent swimmers from entering the area. (Source: Telemetro Reporta)    

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Héctor Alexis Tapia, a 29 year old trained and licensed electrician, was killed yesterday while working as part of the construction crew on a new apartment tower being built in the El Carmen neighborhood of Panama City. According to other construction workers on the site, Tapia was working in the central elevator shaft to install an electrical panel that would be used to supply power to the elevators. One of Tapia's close friends said he had already graduated from the Technological University as an trained and licensed electrician, and he had recently made plans to return to the University to complete a degree in Engineering. What's more, Tapia intended to go to the University yesterday afternoon upon completion of his shift at work to inquire about enrollment requirements, fees and schedules for that program when the accident occurred. Tapia had been working for this company for the past two years. Prior to this job he had worked for other companies on different construction projects. One of the older and more experienced construction workers on the job site explained the laws governing safety and security on construction sites explicitly prohibit the existence of an open elevator shaft while any building is under construction. The law requires the installation of some kind of safety netting or fall protection every two floors - which was not present on this site. "Right now the job site has been shut down, and inspectors from the Municipal Office of Construction, the Ministry of Labor, the Public Ministry, and the Direction of Judicial Investigation are interrogating the representatives from the company and the site managers - those responsible for this project - and inspecting the building. Obviously the company and the site managers working for them should be held responsible because they did not provide adequate safely protection for the workers. The result of that neglect was this tragic accident and Héctor's unnecessary death," he said. According to La Critica, Héctor Alexis Tapia actually survived the fall initially but later died at the Santo Tomas Hospital. He represents the first accidental death of a construction worker in Panama in 2010.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

Rangers of the National Environmental Authority (ANAM), together with members of the Fire Department from Bugaba and environmental volunteers, managed to control a forest fire in the Volcán Barú National Park in the province of Chiriquí. The forest fire occurred in a place called Cerro Pelota, in the town of Potrero Seco, in the Volcán Barú National Park, affecting about seven hectares of protected areas. The fire threatened to enter the forest, which is a serious risk to the ecosystem of the national park, said Harmodio Cerrud, the Regional ANAM Administrator, who also announced an investigation to determine the causes and those responsible for the fire. (Source: TVN Noticias)   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - The following was posted this morning to the Americans in Panama Yahoo! email group: "Unless you requested service or know who the visitor is, don't let them on your property. This is common sense, but under some circumstances one can let their guard down. This happen to a friend's Panamanen relative living in Panama City. In Panama I understand if a person appears to be police or govt. official unless they have a search warrant you don't have to let them on your property or in your house. I don't know all the details, but in general the intruders posed as fumigators in official looking uniforms. Asked to fumigate outside and then inside. I think they did outside then requested to come in the house. Over powered owner and tied the person up. It was probably a planned hit as the owner had considerable cash and jewelry in the house. The police were called around noon, but didn't show up till 6pm. Geez... Just FYI as these crooks to best of my knowledge are still on the loose."

Absolutely correct. Any government official who has a legal right to enter your private property will only do so with a whole gaggle of people. They have to have a search warrant, and there will be about six or more people there, all with proper and valid identification. In addition, it will be related to something you are aware of, like some kind of an ongoing conflict, complaint, or problem. They won't just show up out of the blue. Anyway, don't let anyone into your house just because they "look" official. And, you can use the Yahoo email groups to keep your ear to the ground and to stay abreast of issues such as this.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.    

The driver of a white Nissan Sentra was killed as his car was crushed by the front end of a bus on Saturday morning, in a horrific accident that occurred on Vía Espańa. The bus driver could not explain how the car ended up in his lane and he had no time to hit the brakes or avoid the collision. The driver of the car died on impact. According to witnesses, the young man who was driving home apparently fell asleep at the wheel, causing the accident. The bus was heading toward Panama City. The accident happened in Pedregal in front of the neighborhood of Santa Isabel. The coroner and officials from the prosecutor's office identified the victim as Trinidad Amores. There were several other traffic accidents on Saturday morning and several people were taken in serious condition to the Santo Tomas hospital. There was a collision between two vehicles near Howard, one person was run over in La Pulida, and there was another accident in the area of Roosevelt. (Source: Telemetro)    

Panic and nervousness took hold of employees and customers of the Rodelag company in the city of David, after a devastating fire ripped through one of their warehouses at approximately 3:45 pm yesterday. The fire gained strength when it reached a large stockpile of tires, paint, mattresses and other flammable materials, forcing about 45 employees and customers to leave the building quickly. Due to the intensity of the uncontrollable fire, fire trucks from David, Bugaba, Dolega, and the Enrique Malek airport responded to the scene - in total eight fire trucks and two water tanker trucks from IDAAN were used to fight the fire. Two firemen were treated for smoke inhalation. Losses are estimated at about $1.5 million dollars. There were no fatalities or serious injuries. The fire was presumably caused by an electrical short short circuit in the warehouse. (Source: Evelio Valdés for El Siglo)   

At 3:45 p.m. today a fire started in the Rodelag warehouse in the City of David. Employees were evacuated immediately and electricity was cut to the sector. Three fire trucks from the David Fire Department arrived on the scene. Firefighters have reported that there is not enough water pressure in the fire hydrants, and this has complicated their work. It was also reported the firemen are using a tanker normally stationed at the David airport. (Source: Flor Bocharel O. for La Prensa)   

Even though he was sitting in the last seat in the back of the bus that crashed on the Coastal Strip on Sunday, 24 year-old Esteban Ortega was the most seriously injured. He was trapped for several hours under the twisted metal of the bus, losing part of the skin of his right arm and the tendons of three of his fingers. He will have to undergo 10 operations to regain some mobility. Esteban, who was going to work on the day of the accident, is hospitalized in the Punta Pacifica hospital where he was taken by coworkers when they saw that the Social Security hospital was not providing the necessary care. "We have to pay $3,000 so far, and if we don't then they won't do the second of ten operations that he needs," said Esteban's mother this morning on TVN Noticias. Esteban said that now nothing will be the same, and that it will take about six months to recover from his injuries. Panama's president Ricardo Martinelli promised to pay for the operation they will do on Esteban today, however Esteban's family members are worried because they do not know how they will pay the following surgeries. It's worth mentioning that the 20 year-old bus driver who crashed was racing with another bus. What's more, an hour prior to the accident he was stopped by ATTT inspectors, to whom he paid a bribe and they let him go. (Source: TVN Noticias)

Editor's Comment: What? That's the first I had heard this one. The 20-year old punk who was drag-racing this bus packed full with 60 passengers aboard, didn't have a valid license to drive a bus, and he was stopped by the ATTT an hour prior to the accident, paid a bribe, and drove away? Man. I'm at a loss for words. Do the "law enforcement" officials in this country even understand the meaning of the word? I hope those bribe-taking corrupt ATTT bastards do about three years in prison for taking a $5 dollar bribe. If they had done their damn jobs then this accident never would have happened. Son-of-a-*censormode*... Guys - here's how you do it. You form three man teams, with one each from the National Police, the ATTT, and a representative from the Public Ministry. You form these three man teams that morning, and no two people ever work together twice in the same place. Form the teams and send them out, with orders to enforce the full extent of the law. You also form a special under-cover unit whose only job is to find and report on police officers and ATTT inspectors who take bribes from the public. You mix those guys into your three-man teams, so that the other members of the team never know who might be a informant. When you find law enforcement officers taking bribes at any level, you prosecute them to the full extent of the law, harshly and with prejudice. These three man teams go out, issue tickets, pull license plates off of buses, tow away equipment that's unsafe, or what have you. You also have to establish a means and method by which teams in the field can instantly check on any driver to see if they have any outstanding tickets for moving violations. Anyone with more than $200 dollars in outstanding tickets is arrested on the spot and hauled into court, immediately. Simply speaking, take all buses and drivers who are unsafe off of the road, right friggin' now. What's so damn hard about that? The only thing missing? Political will.   

La Estrella - A large fire was reported in the area of Bethania today, specifically in the area know as the "400" next to the Super 99 supermarket. There were no reported fatalities. The large fire completely destroyed the four rooms of the house, until eventually firemen were able to control the blaze. Early reports indicate that a child has been taken to the Social Security hospital with burns, while a woman was treated for smoke inhalation. At least twelve people have been made homeless by this fire.

Telemetro - (Reported on the fire, but added) One minor was burned, and another three minors and one adult were treated for smoke inhalation. At least 15 people were made homeless.

   

TVN Noticias - The residents of Calle 13 in Santa Ana live in fear after the collapse of the old structures they inhabit. Yesterday a wall of an old house collapsed and two people including an 80 year-old woman, were injured. According to residents, the property owners did not do what is necessary to safeguard their lives, although the Director of the Historical Heritage organization told TVN News that you can not tear down a structure without first conducting an evaluation. Some local residents said the problem is not only the age of the structures, but also the old bathrooms, and they say that they use two, one upstairs and one downstairs, and that "organic waste" from above falls down to the bathroom below. Yarisel Mendez, a mother of four children, including one who is disabled, said she could not bathe the baby and the place is unsafe, and that in the area there are abandoned buildings that serve only as mosquito breeding sites. (Editor's Comment: This kind of thing happens about once a year in Casco Viejo. These old buildings are falling apart and the owners often don't give a damn about preventative maintenance - they just let them go until something actually falls down, like in this case.)   

La Critica - After 72 hours of searching, rescue team of the National System of Civil Protection have suspended the search for little Jose David, who disappeared last Tuesday while collecting shells with his uncle and two other children on the beach in Veracruz. The parents and family members of the child have remained on the beach day and night awaiting news on the whereabouts of the infant, but rescuers called off the search without a trace of the child. In spite of this, both parents hold out hope their child is alive and they do not rule out the possibility the child is being held by another person. Although the people who were with the child confirmed Jose David was dragged by a wave, his mother still believes the version of a woman who said she saw the child playing with some cans. (Editor's Comment: Along Panama's Pacific shore there can be an 18' difference in the tidal levels. Every six hours the tide comes in or goes out, so surf and current conditions are constantly changing. A beach that's perfectly safe one minute can quickly turn treacherous. This is true of every beach on the Pacific side of Panama, from Costa Rica to Colombia. There have been many stories of rip currents forming and sweeping people off of the beach. Learn to read the water, pay attention to your surroundings, don't go in alone, and know what to do in case you find yourself in a dangerous situation.)

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By Marcelino Rosario for La Critica - A truck driver, 55 year old Luis Martínez Araúz, flew more than 150 meters (almost 500 feet) through the air after an explosion caused when he tried to install a light bulb to illuminate the tank compartment of the gasoline tanker he was driving. The accident occurred at 9:00 pm in the community of San Pablo Viejo in the district of David. The largest valve detached from the truck giving "Lucho" a severe blow to the face, head and chest. When he landed, the mans body was naked, the clothing ripped from his body by the force of the blast and it lay scattered in the backyard. Authorities believe the explosion threw "Lucho's" body above the tufted trees that surround the area around his home, and he fell landing on a nearby hill.   

Panama America - After several hours, officials of the National System of Civil Protection (SINAPROC) managed to find the lifeless body of a man who fell into the Matasnillo river near the prison for women. Arturo Alvarado, Director of SINAPROC, said the body was found in the area of Costa del Este. Up to now the identity of the deceased is unknown. (Editor's Comment: During the rainy season tremendous amounts of rain can fall in a very concentrated area in a short period of time. Little streams can turn into raging torrents in a matter of seconds. This guy, for whatever reason, fell into one of these rain swollen rivers and it cost him his life. Don't try to cross moving water that's above your knees under any circumstances, and if you're in an area where water flows be aware of your surroundings and pay attention to the possibility of rain upstream. There might be a downpour a couple of miles away that will turn into a flash flood where you're standing, even though the sun is shining where you are.)   

By Denise Lara for Telemetro - A truck full of construction materials crashed into a wall of a building under construction in the area of San Francisco, ending up balancing on the edge of the slab floor with the cab hanging out into space, several floors up. Part of the cement blocks from the wall fell onto the roof of the betting agency La Radio. Fire Department personnel arrived on the scene to take stock of the situation, and to try to find some way to remove the vehicle without causing further damage to the structure and prevent it from falling on the other building. A few minutes later the vehicle was pulled back in.

   

Panama America - While removing debris several firemen from the Fire Department of Panama discovered the charred body of an 80 year old woman who died in the fire that destroyed a wooden building on Calle 11 of Rio Abajo last night. They are currently awaiting the arrival of officials from the Public Ministry for the removal of the corpse. About thirteen people lived in this house who are now homeless as a result of the fire.   

La Prensa - One construction worker was seriously injured and seven others were hurt when a concrete slab they were pouring collapsed while they were performing some work on the Mother and Child Hospital in the district of Arraiján. Members of the Sindicato Único de los Trabajadores de la Construcción y Similares (SUNTRACS) rushed to the scene to make an assessment of the safety and security measures being practiced at the job site, RPC radio reported. Personnel from the Ministry of Labor also arrived at the scene. The injured workers were rushed to the Social Security hospital on Ave. Transístmica, according to reports from the station.   

Panama America - Antonio Salomón Sánchez, 14 years old, who was severely injured when a backhoe fell on him last Tuesday in the province of Colon, died Wednesday night at the Children's Hospital. He was initially taken from Icacal where the accident occurred to the Manuel Amador Guerrero hospital in Colon, where a multidisciplinary medical team of surgeons, orthopedic, intensive care, vascular surgeons and other physicians were involved in the surgery to initially save his life. That afternoon he was transferred by 911 ambulance to the Children's Hospital in Panama City. The Chief of Surgery, Dr. Jaime Trejos, said they did everything humanly possible to stabilize the patient, who was serious injuries to the bladder, bowels, legs and other parts of this body, and they conducted multiple surgeries including the removal of his lower limbs. The child was a student at the Rio Indio school and in his free time he worked to help poor families.   

By URANIA CECILIA MOLINA for La Prensa - A fine of one million dollars could be applied to the company Industrias Panamá Boston S.A. by the National Environmental Authority (ANAM) if they verify that the company has repeatedly dumped chemicals into the bay of Panama. Migdalia Zapata, manager of the Metropolitan Region of Anam, said if there have been repeated offenses, the matter will be referred to the general manager to impose the sanction. "In this area fines can reach one million dollars," he said. Now they will investigate to see if the company had any earlier infractions, he added. On 21 October a white patch of material was found floating on the Bay of Panama, in the area of Boca la Caja.   Click Here To Read The Full Article (1 words)

Telemetro Reporta - Residents of the Victoria Tower building, located on Ave Samuel Lewis, lived through moments of anguish and fear when they learned an apartment on the 15th floor of this building was on fire. Exclusive footage of cameraman Jose Casis shows when the windows from this apartment of this building began to fall from above. The fire department arrived on the scene but firemen were unable to immediately extinguish the blaze because the nearest hydrant was several meters away and they did not have a special pump truck required to reach high floors. They entered the building through the stairs and used the safety hose near the apartment on the 15th floor to put out the fire. Rescue personnel from SINAPROC Staff and police officers evacuated the building, and some residents refused to leave. The safety office of the Fire Department is investigating the cause of the fire, which according to neighbors was caused by a short circuit.

   

By MALEMA DE LEON for La Prensa - Empty shipping containers placed by the Panama Ports Company to heights not allowed, located right near the end of the runway of the Marcos A. Gelabert airport at Albrook, are affecting air operations at the site. The administrator of airfield, Capt. Carlos Braddick, warns that the high stacks of empty shipping containers is hampering the airspace and causing unsafe conditions for pilots. Although the irregular situation has been identified and reported to the Panama Ports company, there has been any reaction from the company, said the administration of the air terminal located in Albrook. (See Comments)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (349 words)

By Kathyria Caicedo for Telemetro Reporta - After the construction accident which killed Alcides Vergara and Alberto Barría, who were working on the Q Tower project in the area of Punta Pacifica, the municipal government of Panama City has decided to impose a hefty fine. Panama City Mayor Bosco Vallarino announced they have levied a fine of $25,000 dollars against the builder of the project. The fine stems from the lack of inspectors on site, which might have prevented the accident.    Click Here To Read The Full Article (71 words)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Concerned over the rising crime rates here in Panama City, I finally broke down and decided to go out and buy a handgun. Here's a video of me breaking it in on the range last weekend. Now, let's see if the bad guys want to drop by at night...

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received this morning via email: "Hi Don, As a retired FBI Agent of almost 30 years, I agree with the advice you gave folks here in Panama regarding "express kidnappings" and being aware of your surroundings and always listening to your instincts. There is a very good book which deals with this exact thing called The Gift Of Fear. It basically says to listen to your built-in instincts, and react when things don't feel right. So good on you for making more people aware of the fact that this isn't Kansas, and if you choose to live in Panama, New York City, or any place where crime is prevalent, be smart. Cheers, Glenn Tuttle, Shelter Bay Marina." Thanks for the feedback, Glenn. Believe it or not, there are people out there who continue to insist that Kristin (and I) might be overreacting or overly suspicious of the "guy in the car" that day. I guess being more aware than normal comes from years of training and experience, and it's hard sometimes to get others to kinda "wake up" a little and to be more aware of their surroundings.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.    

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Firemen in Panama City are still working to contain a huge fire in Caldonia this morning. The fire was originally reported at 3:40 am, located in the warehouses of three stores - the Oca Loca, La Onda, and Textiles Mundiales. I saw the progress firemen were making against this fire at about 6:30 am and it seemed like they were getting a handle on things. Then at about 8:00 am a wall of the Oca Loca store next to the Pedro J. Sosa school collapsed, allowing more air to reach the fire and it grew and expanded quickly. Now, authorities from IDAAN are trying to increase water pressure to the area. Firemen from the ACP and additional reinforcements are arriving at the scene to relieve those who have been working on the fire for hours who need a break. If you see think black smoke like in this photo then the fire is hot and growing, if you see white smoke and steam then the firemen are getting water on the source and are making headway. They will be working on this all day.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - There was a large fire early this morning effecting three stores in Calidonia. The fire was initially reported at 3:40 am, and spread to the Oca Loca, La Onda, and the Textiles Mundiales stores. By 6:30 am firemen had contained the fire but still had to tear through all of the clothes and merchandise that was still smoldering to completely extinguish the fire. The fire complicated rush hour traffic patterns because police and fire units restricted access to the entire area, causing traffic on the Centennial bridge to backup and come to a standstill. A spokesman for the fire department said they still have not been able to determine the cause of the fire, and that they would be investigating.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received today via email - "Hey Don, I just read your article about the AK-47s in Panama. Good article. Crime does seem to be getting worse. We live in Calidonia, which has always been kind of a bad neighborhood, but a fun place to live. Last Thursday my wife, who's Colombian but has lived most of her life in Panama, was purse-snatched down by the Machetazo on Avenida Peru. She wasn't guarding her purse like she should have been and the guy just swooped in grabbed it and ran up towards Curundu. Luckily he only got $80. Just thought I'd let you know in case you're keeping informal stats. We just bought a small house in Arraijan/Burunga so we'll be moving out of the city. I'm gonna miss the conveniences of the city, but definitely not the noise and the crime. Take it easy amigo ..... Russ." Safety and security certainly has to be a consideration when deciding where to live, but you've got a much greater chance of being a victim of a home invasion robbery living in a single family home in the interior compared to an apartment complex in the city. And, a purse snatching doesn't compare to a pistol whipping. Anyway, good luck, and I hope you spend a good amount of time and effort to make your new home safe and sound.

Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.    

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Here's the first picture from the scene of the fire at the Albrook Mall. The reporting and photos come from Brett Mikkelson of BM Investigations. This photo was taken with the digital camera on a cell phone, and it's kinda hard to see the thick black smoke pouring out of the main entrance (but, it's there.) Firemen are now working to contain and control this fire.

Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Just received updated information. Based on reports from security personnel at the scene, an electrical transformer room is what has caught on fire. The firemen are now on the scene and are awaiting the arrival of professional personnel from the electrical company to cut the flow of power so they can safely enter to extinguish the blaze. This is standard procedure and safety protocol for this kind of fire. The thick black smoke continues to billow from the main entrance to the mall, and the primary cloud is being blown in the direction of the bus terminal. Note - this smoke is highly toxic and dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. The security personnel in the area are reportedly not doing enough to energetically evacuate the entire area to keep people from being exposed to this highly toxic smoke. As my dad would say, "that's some nasty stuff..." and no one should get a lungful. I'm anticipating the arrival of some photos shortly.

Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - I just got a phone call from a good friend who reported that the Albrook Mall is on fire, again. If you will remember last year sometime the warehouse of the Conway stores caught on fire and burned all of the contents. The report is that thick black smoke is pouring out of the "main entrance where the dinosaur is" and that so far there are no firemen on the scene. The local private security guards on the scene are (if you can believe this) directing shoppers to go around and enter the mall from the other side. Unbelievable. More to come as information becomes available.

Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - This afternoon according to reporting from TVN Channel 2 news, there was a very large brush fire burning on Fort Clayton in the area behind where the new US embassy is located, specifically on the hill where new residences are being built. These brush fires are common during this time of the year toward the end of the dry season. Normally, the firemen just let them burn out. There were no reports of injuries or material losses.

Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Yesterday it was announced for every 100 calls made to the new Panamanian 911 system for medical emergencies, 98 have been either false alarms or pranks. I guess the administrators of the system failed to anticipate this level of abuse, and only now have they started to fine those making false alarms $100 dollars per call. In my humble opinion I think the fine should be stiffer. By making a prank call to an emergency system, there's the possibility of having ambulance crews out chasing around phantoms when someone else who really needs the service might be bleeding to death in a car crash. The Panamanian government should come down very loudly and very hard on anyone they can catch pulling this crap, and at the same time start a public awareness campaign to educate people who have never had this kind of system before in the country. Really, so far the public's reaction and response to the start of the 911 system has been appalling. Hopefully, this kind of childishness will diminish over time, and the public will begin to understand and appreciate the 911 system. Your comments solicited, and thanks.

Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By Kathyria Caicedo for Telemetro Reporta - There were many people who were criticizing the delays in the implementation of the new 911 system to report medical emergencies. And now that the system has been activated, of every 100 calls received 98 have turned out to be false alarms. The situation has created many annoyances, mainly among the medical personnel who work there. In response, the government has decided to begin to apply a $100 fine to anyone making a false report. (Editor's Comment: What they should to is apply the fine, and bill the person responsible for the cost of the false alarm - gas, time, personnel, etc.. There has to be a significant deterrent to this kind of thing.)   Click Here To Read The Full Article (72 words)

By Aet Elisa Tejera C. for La Critica - Finally! The "Sistema Único de Manejo de Emergencias" (Unified System of Emergency Response) (SUME 911), started operations yesterday to offer special attention during this years carnival celebrations. Medical emergencies such as car and motorcycle accidents, those injured by firearms or other weapons, pregnant women, cardiac arrest, and any other type of medical emergency can be reported by simply dialing 911 said Marta Sandoya, the Executive Director of the 911 project. As is the custom during carnival, many Panamanians travel to diverse points of the country which is why the managers of the system have installed special locations to cover the areas of Las Tablas, Capira, Aguadulce and Coco Solo in Colón. For Panama City the points of coverage will be located at Plaza Ágora, Atlapa, Centro Comercial Los Andes and Villa Olímpica. (more) (See Comments)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (636 words)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - The incorrect installation of anchorage points for a cargo construction elevator being used as part of the project to build the "Metro Mall" could have been the cause of the accident that resulted in the death of 18 year-old José Manuel Cantoral, according to a preliminary report issued by inspectors of Panama's Ministry of Labor. In this accident 47 year-old Erick Oscar Balma was also seriously injured. During a preliminary inspection of the project being completed by the company Construcciones Berco at the job site of the project located near the Los Pueblos commercial center, Ministry of Labor inspectors observed the pins or the method being used to anchor the construction elevator to the cement slab floors were inadequate because they used steel nails instead of the correct types of anchor points to secure the framework to the slabs. Inspectors also discovered workers were not using any kind of fall protection equipment or harnesses which contributed to the gravity of the accident. The workers were correctly identified in work contracts and were registered under the Program of Professional Risks, providing for their private life insurance. Early today, on Thursday 5 February 2009, Mitradel inspectors are continuing their scientific investigations in the area of the accident to determine the cause of this fatal construction accident.

Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as l    Click Here To Read The Full Article (1 words)

Hola - My name is Don King of the non-profit org Soluciones Biotecnologicas Tropicales (SBT) (www.solareef.com) located in Bocas del Toro. We have been monitoring radio news and getting updates from government agencies on the mainland around Almirante and Changuinola. We are producing and distributing Information sheets here in Bocas. Below is the Info for the 23rd and 24th of November, 2008. Bocas Information for November, 23rd, 2008 The latest information from Radio Chiriqui is: Land Access to Bocas: Almirante/David: The Coastal Highway between Almirante and David/Panama City is blocked by mud slides and may not be cleared for weeks. Changuinola: The Sixaola bridge is closed at this time (border bridge). There is no access to Costa Rica at this time. No time table was given as to when the bridge re-opens. (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (212 words)

Panama, Nov 11 (Prensa Latina) Questionings of the governmental security policy feature in the Panamanian electoral agenda, in a panorama where that subject is among the people's main concerns. The challenge to face insecurity is a common element in the stances of the Panamanian presidential hopefuls, both from the ruling faction and the opposition. Even within the Democratic Revolutionary Party itself, the capital's mayor Juan Carlos Navarro, points to the government of President Martin Torrijos as responsible for the current situation. Navarro also affirmed the president would be accountable for a possible failure of the PRD in the May elections.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received today via email: "Hi Don: Love your guide and I refer it to anyone that has an interest in Panama. Am I imagining this but is there more both petty crime and serious crime that is occurring in the past 4 to 6 months? It seems that people are being killed, held for ransom, home break ins, etc. Doesn't the government understand that this will kill the geese with the golden eggs? Is this taking a very high priority with them or is it just another issue that they will get to in the future. Your feedback will be much appreciated One of your many fans; Chris." You're absolutely right, Chris. Most of the violence on the news does not touch the English speaking expatriate community in Panama, but there have been more assaults and murders across the board. This had been a relatively violent year. (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (733 words)