Moderators Moderator_02 Posted February 1, 2018 Moderators Share Posted February 1, 2018 Quote WW II, bomb closes island to fishermen Posted on January 31, 2018 in Panama Isla Iguana Post Views: 308 FISHERMEN from the Pedasí district have been banned from sailing to Isla Iguana, after the discovery of an abandoned bomb left behind by the US Army during World War II. the area was cordoned off and remains under strict security measures. The bomb was found on Monday, January 29 by a Ministry of the Environment park ranger of who works in the wildlife refuge reports La Prensa. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/ww-ii-bomb-closes-island-fishermen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted February 3, 2018 Author Moderators Share Posted February 3, 2018 Quote WW II bomb detonated on Panama island Posted on February 2, 2018 in Panama Post Views: 211 A SECOND WORLD WAR bomb left behind by the American army was detonated on Isla Iguana, district of Pedasí, Los Santos Province on Friday morning, February 2. Isla Iguana was one of the numerous military bases’ installed by the US military in Panama after it entered the global conflict in 1941. The explosive device was located, on January 29, by a Ministry of the Environment park ranger working in the wildlife refuge. Visits to the island were suspended and fishermen were banned from the area. However, Miguel Batista, mayor of Pedasí, reported – via Twitter – that travel to the island will resume on Saturday. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/ww-ii-bomb-detonated-panama-island Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted February 16, 2018 Author Moderators Share Posted February 16, 2018 Quote Second bomb in wildlife refuge Posted on February 15, 2018 in Panama BOMBS on Island paradise Post Views: 175 A SECOND 500-pound bomb left behind by the US Army during World War II. was found on a beach on wildlife refuge Isla Iguana, by a group of fishermen on Wednesday, February 14; The discovery on El Cirial beach was the second – in less than a month – on Isla Iguana in the The previous one of the same weight was found on January 29 and and was detonated on February 2 by experts from the National Security Council. The Ministry of Environment (Miambiente) suspended visits to the wildlife refuge from Wednesday, February 14. The 52 hectare island was decreed as a wildlife refuge in 1981. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/second-bomb-wildlife-refuge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Doug Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 I visited Isla Iguana last week. There are plenty of bomb craters from WWII bombing target practice. Far more craters than iguanas, actually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palo Alto Jo Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 I think there were more hermit crabs than Iguanas, but I relaxed on that beach last week in Isla Iguana, and never knew it was a former bombing practice sight. It is beautiful. Guess if I'm going to die by bomb blast, that would be the place I'd choose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted February 17, 2018 Author Moderators Share Posted February 17, 2018 Quote Second bomb detonated in tourist heartland Posted on February 16, 2018 in Panama Isla Iguana Post Views: 312 A SECOND 500-pound bomb abandoned on Isla Iguana, Pedasi, by the US military after World War II, was detonated by Panama security specialists on Friday, February 16. The discovery of two unexploded bombs in a fortnight in the wildlife refuge has led Pedasi district mayor , Miguel F. Batista to call on the Panamanian government to carry out “as a matter of urgency” a study to determine if there are more bombs because “Isla Iguana represents the tourist heart of the District of Pedasi.” Isla Iguana, located five kilometers off the coast of Pedasí, in the central province of Los Santos, was used as a training base by the United States during the Second World War. The Ministry of Environment closed the island to tourism on Wednesday, and a similar measure was imposed for five days when the first bomb was found on January 29. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/second-bomb-detonated-tourist-heartland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted February 20, 2018 Author Moderators Share Posted February 20, 2018 Quote Fishermen’s double hit, snakes and bombs Posted on February 19, 2018 in Panama Waiting for tourists Post Views: 284 FISHERMEN from the Pedasi, district who rely on tourism to supplement their income, have been hit by a double whammy – sea snakes on a popular beach and two recent discoveries of unexploded WW II bombs on Isla Iguana. Red flag alert on beaches Edson Hernandez, a fisherman and owner of a hostel complained of mismanagement of tourism information, and some 80 fishermen in the area who ferry passengers to Isla Iguana and along the coast are demanding an explanation from the Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente) related to the closing of the island and the beaches, because they found out only through social networks, and customers have canceled their reservations. Emilio Cedeño, who is dedicated to carrying tourists from El Arenal beach to Isla Iguana, told La Prensa that said they have been affected for eight days because they are not allowed to set sail. Last Tuesday, the Ministry of Environment reported the temporary closure of areas for use by tourists and visitors on beaches in the province of Los Santos, because of the presence of marine snakes of the yellow belly species (Hydrophis platurus). http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/fishermens-double-hit-snakes-bombs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted February 26, 2018 Author Moderators Share Posted February 26, 2018 Quote Third bomb found on tourist island mecca Posted on February 25, 2018 in Panama MINE detectors on Isla Iguana Post Views: 246 A THIRD 500-pound bomb was found by a team of National Security Council team on Isla Iguana a popular tourist spot in Pedesi on the weekend. The bombs were abandoned by the United States Army during World War II.The latest discovery was made by a team of 10 explosives experts who are conducting a full sweep of the 57-hectare island. The first two bombs found were located by a park ranger from the Ministry of Environment, on the El Cirial, a few meters from each other. The first on January 29 and the other on February 13. They were detonated by experts from National Security Council. The third bomb also located on El Cirial beach was uncovered by the tracking team on Sunday after an ongoing sweep through the weekend. Bolívar Domínguez, regional director of the Ministry of Environment in Los Santos, confirmed the discovery of a third bomb in the tourist area and said that after the sweep on El Cirial beach the works will continue on the rest of the island to declare it 100% safe, and allow the return of tourists and fishermen. THeir absence has hit some fisherman hard, as they rely on tourist ferrying to supplement their income. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/third-bomb-found-tourist-island-mecca Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Doug Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 Clearing unexploded bombs from the two beaches on the island will certainly be easier than on the rest of the island which is quite rugged and overgrown. I'm not sure it's worth it. The big beach is the only part of the island that is used along with one short cleared trail connecting to a much smaller beach on the other side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted February 27, 2018 Author Moderators Share Posted February 27, 2018 Quote Fourth bomb found in island cleanup Posted on February 26, 2018 in Panama Post Views: 126 HOURS after explosives experts, engaged in a weekend “sweep” of Isla Iguana off Pedasi, in Los Santos, uncovered a third 500-pound bomb, a fourth was discovered. The bombs, left behind by the United States Army after World War II, were found by experts from Panama’s National Security Service on the El Cirial beach the first area to be cleaned because it is the sector where visitors arrive. The first two bombs had been found by Park Rangers from the Ministry of the Environment. On January 29, and February 13. Bolivar Dominguez, regional director of the Ministry of Environment said that after t El Cirial beach, the cleanup operation will continue until the island can be declared 100 percent safe. Merchants and fishermen are awaiting the re-opening of the area, and the return of tourists. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/fourth-bomb-found-island-cleanup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Woolford Posted March 2, 2018 Share Posted March 2, 2018 (edited) Mi Ambiente has re-opened Isla Iguana to tourists. Edited March 2, 2018 by Keith Woolford Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Doug Posted March 2, 2018 Share Posted March 2, 2018 That's good news. The island is worth visiting to see the hundreds of soaring frigates, among other things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Nilsen Posted March 2, 2018 Share Posted March 2, 2018 As to the sea snakes - are these the very poisonous ones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Doug Posted March 2, 2018 Share Posted March 2, 2018 The story didn't make it clear, but those sea snakes were not at Isla Iguana, but along a stretch of mainland beach in the same district. Out of curiosity, I did a little investigation of the yellow bellied sea snake. (Hydrophis platurus). While they are venomous, they aren't aggressive. Almost all bites are to fisherman who accidentally net them along with their catch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted April 16, 2018 Author Moderators Share Posted April 16, 2018 Quote OPINION: Panama’s ammo challenge Posted on April 15, 2018 in Media Watch, Panama An earlier search on Isla Iguana Post Views: 94 On Wednesday [Apr,18] the sanitation program of sites contaminated with unexploded ordnance, an environmental legacy of the American military activities in Panama will be formally launched. This effort is full of unknowns since the magnitude of the affected geographical areas is unknown inside and outside the old Panama Canal Zone. How much ammunition is there in the whole Republic? How much is unexplored? What is the level of contamination of the affected lands? Does the surrounding population know the dangers of similar coexistence? Unexploded ordnance (MUSE, in the slang of several conventions on the subject) include bullets, mortar shells, grenades and bombs that have been found throughout the country. Iconic sites like Isla San José and Isla Iguana, Nuevo Emperador or Río Hato, are part of a little-known history that only now begins to be seen as a top-level environmental risk. The Rio Hato region will be the subject of a pilot plan to clean up the MUSE that can exist in about 7,200 hectares. However, the funds allocated only cover the cleanup of 5 hectares, with an estimated cost of up to $50,000 each. Although the task represents a challenge and will take generations to realize it, for this reason, the importance of this first step must not be ignored. Applause. LA PRENSA, Apr. 15 http://www.newsroompanama.com/features/media-watch/opinion-panamas-ammo-challenge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.