After a bridge collapsed in northern Brazil at the weekend, there are fears of water contamination, after lorries loaded with thousands of litres of pesticides as well as Sulphuric acid plunged into the river below.
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| A drone view shows a collapsed bridge between Aguiarnopolis and Estreito, Brazil on December 24, 2024. Photo: Mauricio Marinho/Reuters via edition.cnn.com |
Four (4) people have been confirmed dead, and more than ten (10) are missing after the central span of the bridge connecting Tocantins and Maranhão states collapsed on Sunday afternoon.
It remains unclear if and how much the chemicals have leaked from their containers, however, diving operations in the river have been suspended while the situation is assessed.
Eight (8) vehicles fell into the river, encompassing the three lorries containing chemicals.
Rescue works are being carried out from boats. Four (4) have been pulled out including the female driver of one of the trucks and an 11-year-old girl, the fire service disclosed.
Elias Junior, Councillor, said, he never expected the bridge to actually collapse when he was there and was “in shock”.
