Moderators Moderator_03 Posted November 2, 2022 Moderators Share Posted November 2, 2022 Quote 21 injured in Obarrio apartment explosion Posted 01/11/2022 Over 20 people were injured, two seriously, in an explosion on the twelfth floor of an apartment building in Obarrio at 7.15 am on Tuesday, November 1. First responders rushed to the Urbana building on Calle 54 to rescue the injured and evacuate more than 500 people from the complex and neighboring buildings while a fleet of ambulances transported victims to the Hospital Santo Tomas. There are nine affected buildings. Five with compromised structure. The area has been cordoned off for investigation. The captain of the firefighters, Ángel Delgado, pointed out that they are evaluating some 10 structures or buildings that could have been affected https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/21-injured-in-obarrio-apartment-explosion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted November 3, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted November 3, 2022 Quote Three women remain hospitalized after explosion 02/11/2022 Three women remain hospitalized after the explosion that occurred on Tuesday morning November 1, at the PH Urbana, on Calle 54 (Obarrio). One of them is in the hospital complex of the Social Security Fund (via Transístmica), another is in Santo Tomás (HST) and the third, in the Pacifica Salud hospital reported Ángel Delgado, director of Related Calamities of the Panama Fire Department, who recalled that 22 people were injured after the event. The person hospitalized in the burn unit of Santo Tomás has burns on 60% of her body, while the young woman - between 20 and 23 years old - who is in Pacifica Salud –has serious injuries, although her condition is stable Delgado detailed. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/three-women-remain-hospitalized-after-explosion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted November 3, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted November 3, 2022 Quote 12 deaths in 10 years from apartment gas explosions Posted 02/11/2022 A new explosion in a high-end residential building that injured 22 residents once again brings to the fore the issue of tests and gas installations which have caused a dozen deaths in the last 10 years says TVN. Mario Vargas, from the Panamanian Association of PH Administrators, said that it is necessary to think about what is being done within horizontal properties to mitigate this type of risk. Apartments in the damaged Urbana complex cost over $306,000. He considers it necessary to improve the procedure not only for the tightness test but also for the gas installations that must be carried out by qualified persons, indicating that the fact that the contracting party is qualified does not mean that the person who installs it is. “The tightness test is not going to solve everything, it can be a bad installation by an owner, it can be a bad handling by an unsuitable technician. We have to identify where the problem is, if it was a leak due to the construction materials or due to the manipulation of the system”, he asserted. Vargas reiterated that it is important to identify the risk and he advised people if they smell gas to immediately call the fire department. He stressed that the designs and construction of the buildings comply with international safety regulations, which is why they receive the permits. While there are people who fear the airtightness test because it takes up to two years, when it should take a month and a half maximum, but owners often do not open their units for the testing process, which delays them. "An airtightness test costs between $90 and $100 dollars per apartment , this includes the certification and test," he said. In the last 10 years there have been seven cases of explosions in PH . https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/12-deaths-in-10-years-from-apartment-gas-explosions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted November 4, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted November 4, 2022 Quote Residents of buildings near Obarrio explosion awaiting return Posted 03/11/2022 The neighboring buildings on 54 Obarrio Street – which were evacuated Tuesday after the explosion that occurred at the PH Urbana– will not be able to be inhabited until at least the weekend as the infrastructure reviews are still ongoing, including electrical tests. Ángel Delgado, director of Related Calamities of the Panama Fire Department, stressed that evidently in the PH Urbana there is "severe" and "quite considerable" damage on floors 11, 12, and 13, so "at this time it is not possible to live". However, Delgado indicated that the Sophia, Diana, and Victoria buildings – which are located in front of the PH Urbana – are structures that are completing the technical and electrical inspections, so soon these buildings “may be, according to the specialists, livable”. The exact date for occupation depends on what the authorities say between today's afternoon and the next few days, (tomorrow Friday, and Saturday), based on the evaluations carried out. "It's likely that after that they can be 100 percent occupied," he said. Wing two of the Millenium building, which is located next to the PH Urbana, cannot be inhabited. Meanwhile, Abdiel Solís, general director of the Fire Department, pointed out that they have no problem with the technical board requesting an independent body to review the PH. The explosion at the PH Urbana was recorded on Tuesday. In the tragedy, 22 people were injured and three remain hospitalized: a twenty-year-old who is confined in the Punta Pacifica hospital, another is an older adult with burns on 80% of her body who is in the Santo Tomás Hospital; and another woman, whose age was not specified, who is in the Arnulfo Arias Madrid Hospital Complex. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/residents-of-buildings-near-obarrio-explosion-awaiting-return Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted November 9, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted November 9, 2022 Quote Security concerns suspend inspection of apartment explosion site Posted 07/11/2022 The visual inspection scheduled for Monday, November 7 at the PH Urbana on 54 Obarrio street, Bella Vista district, the scene of a massive explosion the previous week, was suspended for security reasons. The decision to suspend the diligence was made after a review carried out by engineers from the Technological University of Panama (UTP) and personnel from the Panama Fire Department determined that the tiles in apartment No. 12, where an explosion occurred on November 1, present cracks in its structure. The primary care prosecutor, Julio Villarreal, specified that the experts made the decision to shore up floors 9, 10, and 11 to avoid a possible collapse of the structures when the expertise is carried out, which seeks to determine the causes of the explosion. These works will be carried out Monday afternoon and, Tuesday, to secure the structures of the floors. The explosion on the 12th floor of the PH Urbana broke windows, collapsed furniture, threw debris that affected citizens and vehicles, and left 22 people injured, including three hospitalized one with burns to 80% of her body. In addition, the blast wave affected several nearby buildings, some of which cannot yet be occupied by their owners. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/security-concerns-suspend-inspection-of-apartment-explosion-site Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted December 2, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted December 2, 2022 Quote One month after Obarrio explosion residents await report Posted 01/12/2022 One month after the explosion on the twelfth floor of PH Urbana on Calle 54 in Obarrio leading to 20 injured people and the evacuation of 600 in neighboring apartment buildings, affected residents remember the unfortunate event and demand greater speed and transparency from the ongoing investigations. A preliminary report on the causes of the explosion still needs to be delivered, to reveal who is responsible and prevent situations of this type from happening again. Roritza Marciaga owns an apartment on level 18 of PH Urbana. The keys to the property were handed over to her at the end of September. On national holidays, she planned to fix it to move, but since the events of November 1, all her plans have taken a 180-degree turn reports La Prensa. On the day of the explosion, she was on her way to her office through the South corridor when she heard the first reports of the incident in Obarrio on the radio. “When they were giving more information, she alone in the car, she said: ‘My God, let it not be on Calle 54, let it not be the PH Urbana, ”she recalls. “There have been explosions in the country, however, the magnitude of the damage has been unprecedented for both Urbana and third parties. What is most striking is that it is a new PH. Thank God it wasn't totally occupied,” she says. Marciaga hopes that with all the transparency in the world – and if the authorities declare the PH Urbana habitable – all possible guarantees are given that we can indeed return with the greatest security in the world. They want to sleep in peace. “This uncertainty as human beings affects us. You have to think that many families will not have Christmas as they expect at home ”, she points out. Mabel Guerra was about to occupy one of the apartments that she acquired on the 18th floor a. Until before the explosion she was buying the white line, painting, and regular aspects in every move. Her plans to live at the Urbana have been delayed, but they still stand. Her apartment is on the opposite side of the 12th floor where the explosion occurred and did not suffer major damage but she is still awaiting the results of the investigations https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/one-month-after-obarrio-explosion-residents-await-report Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted February 15, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted February 15, 2023 Quote Obarrio tower explosion from gas stove - report Posted 13/02/2023 An explosion in an Obarrio apartment tower that injured 20 people, one seriously and the evacuation of 600 residents was of the "chemical" type says an expert report, of the Panama Firefighters, released Monday. The explosion in the PH Urbana occurred in November 2022 and the fuel detected was liquefied urban petroleum gas, according to the reading given by Colonel Abdiel Solís Pérez. The explosion was classified as a "deflagration", since a substance burned suddenly, without explosion but with flames. The kitchen of apartment 12C-2 was determined to be the area of origin of the explosion. “The stove, as the epicenter of the explosion, is related to cause and effect due to damage vectors and dynamics of the pressure wave evidenced at the scene,” Solís commented. In total, 600 people were evacuated, including residents of the building and nearby buildings, including commercial premises. Authorities transferred 300 people to temporary multifamily housing. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/obarrio-tower-explosion-from-gas-stove-report-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted March 9, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted March 9, 2023 Quote Prosecutor challenges judge in explosion trial Posted 08/03/2023 The Public Ministry challenged the judge, Leila Terán, who is part of the oral trial court, which will determine the responsibilities of three defendants in the explosion of PH Costamare, which occurred on May 31, 2019. The specialized homicide section explained that a relative of the judge is represented in a process by the forensic firm Mejía y Asociados, which also represents the defendants in the case. In addition to Leila Terán, the Trial Court was also made up of Viterbo Quintero Montenegro and José Madrid. The appeal filed by the prosecution also suspended the oral trial of the case, which began on March 6, 2023, to determine the responsibilities of the maintenance assistant, the person in charge of the administration of the horizontal property, and the company, MTS Administración Total, in the gas explosion that occurred in the PH Costa Mare, in Costa Sur, in the village of Don Bosco, on May 31, 2019. The event ended the life of Marcelo Muñoz Lima, a 10-month-old baby, and caused serious injuries to his 5-year-old brother Miguel, and his 35-year-old mother Karina Lima. Nine years in prison – 6 for the culpable homicide of the baby and 3 for aggravated personal injuries to the other two victims – the Homicide Prosecutor has requested those whom it points out as the perpetrators of the tragedy, which shocked the country. An appeal filed by the prosecution suspended the oral trial of the case, which began on March 6, 2023, to determine the responsibilities of the maintenance assistant, the person in charge of the administration of the horizontal property, and the company, MTS Administración Total, in the gas explosion that occurred in the PH Costa Mare, in Costa Sur, in the village of Don Bosco, on May 31, 2019. The event ended the life of Marcelo Muñoz Lima, a 10-month-old baby, and caused serious injuries to his 5-year-old brother Miguel, and his 35-year-old mother Karina Lima. The prosecution has called for Nine years in prison – six for the culpable homicide of the baby and three for aggravated personal injuries to the other two victims – those whom it points out as the perpetrators of the tragedy, which shocked the country. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/prosecutor-challenges-judge-in-explosion-trial Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted March 15, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted March 15, 2023 Quote Gas accumulated for 9 hours before explosion that killed baby, injured 2 Posted 13/03/2023 An investigation by the Fire Department establishes responsibilities in the explosion in the PH Costa Mare in Don Bosco, on May 31, 2019, states that the explosion was the result of gas escaping through a valve that connected to a clothes dryer, in the apartment's laundry room. "The responsibility of the person who opened or restored the gas to apartment 07-22 without first verifying that all the valves were closed is clear...", the document reads. An electrical technician connected the gas service following the instructions of the horizontal property administrator, On the day of the explosion, Miguel Muñoz, the owner, requested the re-establishment of the gas and electricity service. The administrator agreed that he would do it in the afternoon, before the arrival of the family, which was scheduled for the night. He issued instructions to an electrician, who did not have a license to accredit him for the task, to open the stopcock and restore the gas supply. The technician proceeded to follow the instructions and opened the stopcock located on the stairs of the building but, according to the protocol for the use of liquefied gas, in the connection process, in a new pipeline, the entire system must be inspected so that there are no open terminals and all the valves are closed and covered. As a preventive measure, it also establishes that after the gas has been connected to a new system or has been restarted after a service interruption, the tightness of the piping must be checked and where a leak appears, the supply must be cut off. But, the electrician assured that he did not have access or authorization to enter the apartment. For nine hours, the gas escaped from a valve in the laundry center that was kept open because a tenant had left it open after unplugging her clothes dryer. During that time, the gas bubbles traveled through different ducts and spaces and mixed with oxygen. According to the report, it first accumulated in the laundry room and, later due to saturation, it leaked into the bedroom and other areas of the apartment saturated with gas, it leaked through the cracks in the doors Neighbors felt a "smell of a dead animal", of "garbage" and reported the anomaly to the administration that underestimated the risks and believed that it was sewage, At night, the Muñoz Lima family arrived in Costa Mare to live in the apartment. In 9 hours, the gas bubbles traveled through different ducts and spaces and mixed with oxygen, causing a powerful explosion that destroyed practically all the interior and exterior walls of the apartment and caused the death of a 10-month-old baby and caused serious injuries to another child under the age of 5 and to the 35-year-old mother of both children The first report of the explosion occurred at 10:13 p.m. just as the family entered the apartment.“The detonation traveled at a sonic velocity in the air with pressure from saturation,” says the report adding that “the expansion and impact waves increased their power in zone one as it moved away from the point of ignition”. The administration of the residence disclaimed any responsibility, arguing that it was only responsible for the maintenance of the common areas. Judge recusal There are three defendants for the explosion: the PH managing company, the administrator, and the maintenance assistant, for culpable homicide and personal injury. The oral trial began on March 6, 2023, but was suspended after a challenge filed by the homicide prosecutor's office against Judge Leila Terán because it was known that the firm that represents the defendants acts as a defense for a relative of hers. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/gas-accumulated-for-9-hours-before-explosion-that-killed-baby-injured-2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted April 1, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted April 1, 2023 Quote Manslaughter verdict for PH explosion that killed a baby Posted 31/03/2023 A trial court handed down a guilty verdict for the crime of manslaughter for Heriberto Polo Garzón, Abraham Pinto, and the company Mts Administración Total, S.A. According to the investigation carried out by the Homicide and Femicide Prosecutor's Office, Polo, as an administrator of the PH, ordered Pinto to manipulate the gas keys, when the latter was not qualified for this type of work. According to investigations, this caused an accumulation of gas that at 9:45 p.m. on May 31, 2019, explode causing The event caused the death of Marcelo, 10 months old, and burns to his brother Miguel Ignacio, 5, and his mother Karina Lima. Miguel and Karina were sent to hospitals in the United States, to be treated by specialists, Both remained in the hospital for months and the treatment and recoveries were slow, arduous, and painful. Homicide and Femicide prosecutor, Jorge Ferguson, explained that the theory of the case presented by the Public Ministry proved before that there was a handling of the building's supply equipment by unsuitable personnel and that they did not comply with the required procedures. GAS SMELLS Ferguson explained that the opening of the apartment's gas taps was carried out despite warnings from neighbors and the PH's own security of the existence of a strong smell of gas throughout the sector. He alleged that it was even proven that there were shortcomings by the company in charge of the administration of the PH in the hiring of personnel to attend to aspects related to the gas pipelines. The prosecutor stressed that the situation was confirmed by an expert report prepared by the Panama Fire Department, which detailed that only suitable and duly certified personnel can carry out pipe verification work for the gas supply. A specialist from the National Institute of Training and Training for Human Development (Inadeh) also appeared, who confirmed that these works must be carried out by a certified plumber and not by an electrician or professional from another branch. Those convicted can face penalties ranging from 3 to 6 years in prison. In addition, the prosecutor's office requested the suspension of the operating license of the company in charge of the administration of the PH. Prosecutor Ferguson said that the sentence should serve as a turning point for compliance with safety regulations related to the supply of gas in homes. The three-person trial court will read the sentence on April 28. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/manslaughter-verdict-for-ph-explosion-that-killed-a-baby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted April 30, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted April 30, 2023 Quote Two jailed following explosion that killed a baby Posted 29/04/2023 The Oral Trial Court of the First Judicial Circuit of Panama handed down sentences of 4 and 5 years in prison for two people found guilty of culpable homicide following an explosion in PH Costa Mare. In addition, the Court canceled the operating license of the administration company and decreed accessory penalties for two of those sanctioned: one was disqualified from performing administrative work for 48 months, and the other was disqualified from carrying out maintenance work, also for a period of 48 months, once they have served the main sentence. The Trial Judges reached their unanimous decision an 11-day hearing. The criminal case began on May 31, 2019, when an explosion occurred in apartment number 2 of tower 7 of PH Costa Mare that caused damage to the five floors of the condominium and the building next door. According to investigations, the explosion occurred due to a gas leak that caused a deflagration, as a result of, the administration of the complex opening the gas tap of the apartment in question, so that its owner could inhabit it a task that was carried out without keeping the security measures or protocols that should characterize the procedure, and the worker assigned to the task did not have the necessary qualifications. This resulted in the death of a child under 10 months of age and 14 people were injured, two seriously, and the buildings were declared uninhabitable. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/two-jailed-following-explosion-that-killed-a-baby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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