THIS is the terrifying moment a fuel tanker explodes into a huge fireball in the Panama Canal – with the horror blast killing one and injuring four others.
Jaw-dropping footage showed a raging inferno swallowing busses and cars on a major bridge as thick plumes of smoke billowed towards the sky.
The man who was killed is believed to be an employee at the complex where the tanker exploded.
The massive blast went off on Monday afternoon under the Bridge of Americas in Panama.
More than 70 firefighters and 45 emergency vehicles rushed to the scene to battle the blaze.
Shocking pictures showing fires still raging in the aftermath of the explosion.
Different angles of the fire showed thick clouds of smoke rising above the bridge following the massive blast.
Local authorities said the explosion had no effect on the Panama Canal – a major shipping route.
Two of the wounded victims are firefighters who suffered minor injuries, and the other two are civilians.
The Bridge of Americas, which cost a whopping £15million to build, was closed following the extraordinary ordeal – with authorities now probing the blast.
Firefighters took three hours to put out the inferno and make the area safe again.
A spokesman for Panama’s Fire Brigade Service said: “Unfortunately, a person has died, possibly a collaborator of the company, who was trapped at the time when the fire and subsequent explosion of tanker vehicles occurred.”
It is currently unclear what exactly caused the huge explosion.
More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online
Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
