Panama fire investigators confirmed that the Bijao apartment explosion in Coclé occurred after a pressure integrity test had been completed and during the subsequent gasification process. Cirilo Castillo, who leads the National Directorate of Security, Prevention and Fire Investigation (Dinasepi), said no one was inside the Pacific Blue building when the blast happened on September 22.
The explosion left two apartments severely damaged and rendered the entire structure uninhabitable, according to the latest inspection. Fire personnel responded to a support call and deployed both the national gas chief and the national investigation chief to the scene, where they encountered what Castillo described as a heavily devastated area.
Sequence of the Bijao Apartment Explosion
Castillo explained that crews had finished a hermeticity test, a procedure that subjects piping to air pressure exceeding normal operating levels. Once that test concluded and the necessary permits were secured, workers moved into the gasification phase. The blast happened during that maneuver, after personnel had already withdrawn from the site.
“There was no one in the building, as far as we understand at this moment,” Castillo said [Translated from Spanish]. He emphasized that expert analysis and investigative work remain ongoing, with several theories still under consideration.
Investigation and Building Safety Status
Following the most recent inspection, authorities determined the building cannot be occupied. Two apartments sustained the brunt of the structural damage. The fire service is now working to close out forensic examinations while reconstructing the exact conditions that led to the failure.
The incident has drawn attention to gas installation protocols in residential developments along Panama’s Pacific coast. Investigators have not yet released a definitive cause, but the timeline points to the transition between the pressure test and the introduction of gas into the system as the critical window.
Regional Context and Next Steps
Bijao, a coastal community in Coclé province, has seen steady residential growth in recent years, with new high-rise projects increasingly reliant on centralized gas infrastructure. Friday’s explosion underscores the risks associated with commissioning those systems, even when standard testing procedures appear to have been followed.
Fire officials expect to issue further findings once laboratory analysis and witness interviews conclude. For now, the Pacific Blue building remains sealed, and displaced residents are awaiting clearance from structural engineers before any potential reentry.