The death toll from the collapse of a bridge between two states in northeastern Brazil has risen to four. However, the fate of several people remains unknown. The search operation is taking place in difficult conditions because, as a result of the disaster, tankers carrying thousands of liters of pesticides and several dozen tons of sulfuric acid fell into the Tocantins River.
The central section of the Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Bridge connecting the Brazilian states of Tocantins and Maranhao collapsed on Sunday. According to Brazilian media, at least eight vehicles fell into the water as a result of the disaster. Local services reported four deaths (three women and a man) and a dozen missing. A search and rescue operation has been ongoing on site for several days, but it is taking place in extremely difficult conditions.
The vehicles that fell into the Tocantins River included tankers carrying approximately 25,000 liters of pesticides and 76 tons of sulfuric acid. Substances that were extremely harmful to the environment began to be released into the water, which was considered a threat to divers.
“Our priority is to find the bodies in the river so that we can return them to their families,” said Cleder Jacome, minister of environment and tourism in the city of Aguiarnopolis.
Concerns about contamination and economic impacts
Regional authorities banned drinking water from the Tocantins River and bathing in it. The services fear that the leak of hazardous substances may lead to a local ecological disaster. Sulfuric acid is one of the strongest acids and contact with it causes deep burns.
Residents are also afraid of the economic consequences of the disaster. The bridge connecting the cities of Estreito and Aguiarnopolis played a key role in the transport of many goods, including food, and was the main route to work for many people.
– Products will be more expensive. Now all we have left is transport by boat, says a local taxi driver.
Investigation
Brazilian services announced that they had started an investigation to explain the causes of the crash. The bridge over the Tocantins River, built in the 1960s, had been in poor condition for a long time. This was noticed, among others, by residents. According to the National Department of Transport Infrastructure (DNIT), the collapse occurred due to the collapse of the central span of the bridge.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and promised support for the services searching for the missing. The Brazilian government has also committed to rebuilding the bridge, which is expected to be ready within a year.
Main photo source: Reuters