Snap, Crackle and BOOM, BOOM, BOOM
Jul 19th, 2008 by Don Ray
Last night, about 10:00 PM, I heard some crackling noise followed by a loud boom. I looked out the window and saw nothing at first. Then there was another boom and a lot of sparks, almost like some was setting off fireworks in a tree that is about 30 yards from my bedroom window.
I got up and went out side about the time of the third boom and I was close enough to the tree to see what the problem was. The tree has grown into the power lines. With all of the rain, the tree caused a short circuit and thus the explosions.
We called Union Fenosa and they were here within 15 minutes. I spoke with one of the Union Fenosa individuals and this line is a main power trunk providing power from here to Chiriquí Mall, to Bogaba and all the way to Volcan.
If you live in those areas and had a power outage last night, that is probably the reason. The Union Fenoza representative said they would have to re-route power to those areas. They were working with chain saws, until about Midnight, making room between the tree and the power lines.
Now I just wonder how long it will take to get the fallen tree out of the street. I spoke to one of my neighbors who had been walking his dog when the explosion occurred. The dog bolted when he heard the explosion and my neighbor was searching for his dog. I hope the dog was found all right.
