Albrook Mall has acknowledged cracks and ground settlement in parts of its Panama City complex, saying the damage is associated with construction taking place nearby.
The mall issued a statement on October 2 after photographs and reports of cracked surfaces, uneven floors and subsidence had circulated on social media since May.
Management described the condition as “induced settlement” and said specialists are monitoring affected locations and carrying out maintenance. According to mall director Nadkyi Duque, the affected areas represent less than 10% of the commercial complex.
Most repair work is being performed at night to reduce disruption for visitors, the mall said. It did not announce any closure or identify an immediate danger to customers.
The statement also did not specify which construction project it believes caused the ground movement.
The most prominent work underway in the surrounding area is the underground section of Line 3 of the Panama Metro. The project will connect Panamá Oeste with Albrook, where the new monorail line is intended to interchange with the existing Line 1.
The project’s tunnel-boring machine is advancing toward Albrook after completing its passage beneath the Panama Canal and reaching the Balboa shaft earlier this year. Construction is also underway around the future Line 3 station and its connection with the existing transport network.
That proximity does not by itself establish that Metro construction caused the mall’s damage. La Prensa requested an explanation from Metro de Panamá, but no response was included in its October 2 report.
The newspaper also reported that two buildings used by the National Police in Ancón may have experienced damage in the same general area. Those reported effects have not been publicly detailed or officially attributed to the Metro project.
A technical assessment identifying the affected structures, measured ground movement and responsible construction activity would be necessary to establish causation and determine who must pay for repairs.
Until then, the confirmed facts are that the mall has acknowledged limited settlement and cracking, is conducting repairs and believes nearby work is responsible—without publicly identifying that work.
Sources: La Prensa
