In brief
Authorities are on high alert following the incident that has claimed lives and prompted emergency water safety warnings.
A catastrophic bridge collapse in northern Brazil over the weekend has raised serious concerns about potential water contamination due to dangerous chemicals leaking into the river below. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon when the central span of the Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira bridge, which connects Tocantins and Maranhão states, collapsed under the weight of several lorries. Tragically, four fatalities have been confirmed, and over ten individuals remain unaccounted for.Local authorities are deeply worried about the ecological impact of the spill, as the lorries involved carried thousands of litres of hazardous pesticides and sulphuric acid. The full extent of the chemical leakage is still uncertain, and diving operations to assess the water's safety have currently been suspended. Eyewitnesses have reported dramatic scenes, including drone footage that captures the immediate aftermath of the disaster.Local councillor Elias Junior, who had previously warned about visible cracks in the bridge, witnessed the collapse unfold—an experience he described as shocking and unimaginable. Residents in the nearby cities of Estreito and Aguiarnopolis have been instructed to refrain from using water from the river until further notice. Rescue efforts are ongoing, involving boats that are combing the waters for survivors. So far, four bodies have been recovered, including that of a truck driver and an 11-year-old girl. Remarkably, one man was successfully rescued from the river on the same day of the collapse. Built in the 1960s and stretching over half a kilometre (1,600 feet), the bridge was a crucial transportation link between the two states across the Tocantins river.
