Review of emergency plans in Panama towers

(newsroompanama.com) Emergency evacuatio9ns  that have taken place in buildings in Panama city this year have triggered alarms in government circles and authorities are planning a major review of procedures.

Minister of Government, Roxana Mendez, is behind the move which involves inspectors, security officers and the fire brigade.

Mendez said a building review will start in October. Administrators will contact managements to review security infrastructures and decide what measures are needed to bring them up to scratch.

The initiative follows emergencies in buildings located in the center of the capital. In May at the Global Bank Tower, on Calle 50, there was an electrical problem, which poured smoke into the building and onto the street forcing a mass evacuation and highlighted the lack of uniform emergency procedures in companies occupying the building, and there were complaints of inadequate lighting on stairs, and doors that couldn’t be opened.

On the day the Minister was speaking, the Global Bank Tower was conducting an emergency evacuationexercise, and hundreds of workers poured onto the street  as police vehicles arrived.
This year also, at the Afra building on Avenida Samuel Lewis, there was an outbreak of fire that left at least two injured.

On Via Brazil six people died from a gas explosion, and last years 22 cars and some apartments were destroyed in fire following a gas delivery explosion near the Marriott Hotel and Casino.

"The growth of the city has presented major challenges in safety and security offices of the Fire Department have a challenge and responsibility," said Méndez.

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Original Source: newsroompanama.com
Date Retrieved: September 30, 2010.