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Flat Arch reconstruction begins
San Carlos sunrise
 

Flat Arch reconstruction underway

photos by LA

It started with the placement of a time capsule, above. Now the Casco Viejo's Arco Chato (Flat Arch), a symbol of Panama City's seismic stability for some 325 years before something brought it down on November 7, 2003, is on its way back up. The arch's collapse was variously attributed to penetrating humidity, corrosive air pollution, traffic vibrations and loud holiday celebrations, but it's hard to pinpoint the cause because nobody was regularly monitoring the architectural wonder, part of the ruins of the old Santo Domingo Convent (two views below) in the Casco Viejo. In any case, the blame game seems to be behind us and work crews are getting set to restore the structure as part of the Torrijos administration's Casco Viejo improvement plan.