Brazil bridge collapse kills one, acid spill raises concerns – World News

A bridge connecting Brazil’s northern and northeastern regions collapsed on Sunday, killing at least one person and spilling sulfuric acid into the Tocantins River. The incident occurred on the Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Bridge, which connects the towns of Estreito, in the state of Maranhão, and Aguiarnópolis, in the state of Tocantins. The central span of the 533-meter bridge gave way in the afternoon as several vehicles, including a tanker truck, crossed.

According to officials of the National Transport Infrastructure Department, the tanker carrying sulfuric acid plunged into the river following the collapse. Firefighters confirmed one death and another person rescued alive. Preliminary reports indicate at least 11 people were involved in the incident, including two trucks, a carand a motorcycle falling into the river, which is more than 50 meters deep.

In a dramatic moment, Aguiarnópolis city councilor Elias Junior recorded a video calling for the repair of the bridge, which he said could no longer support the weight of heavy goods vehicles. As he showed him a large crack in the bridge, it collapsed in front of him, causing him to flee for safety. The video has not been independently verified and Junior did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Salvage operations were temporarily halted in the early evening when divers identified that one of the submerged tankers was leaking sulfuric acid, posing a further danger to the area. The bridge, inaugurated in 1960, is part of the BR-226 highway and connects Brasilia, the federal capital, to Belém, a northern city that will host next year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference. The collapse raised serious concerns about the safety of the structure, built of reinforced concrete.

The tragedy continues to unfold as authorities investigate the cause of the collapse and assess the environmental impact of the sulfuric acid spill.

(With inputs from Reuters)