A fuel truck exploded at the base of a bridge over the Panama Canal, killing one person and leading to the closure of the bridge while authorities look into the incident.

According to the Associated Press, the explosion occurred on Panama's Bridge of the Americas around 4 p.m. on April 6, where several cars were driving as a fireball rose toward the top of the span. Authorities say that one fuel truck worker was killed in the blast, while two firefighters were injured during response efforts. Panama's Fire Department has not received reports of any other injuries, and the cause of the explosion has yet to be determined but is under investigation.

Engineers also warn that the fire from the explosion might have seriously damaged the 60-year-old bridge that links Panama City to the western part of the country. Response teams are currently evaluating concrete and metal parts of the span to fully assess the structural integrity of the span.

In the meantime, Panama's President José Raúl Mulino has said that while the closure of the bridge is likely to cause disruptions in the near term, his hope is that operations will return to normal "as soon as possible."