There are fears of water contamination after a bridge collapsed in northern Brazil on the weekend, sending lorries carrying 1000’s of litres of pesticides and sulphuric acid into the river beneath.
4 individuals are identified to have died, and greater than 10 are lacking after the central span of the bridge linking Tocantins and Maranhão states gave method on Sunday afternoon.
It isn’t clear if or how a lot the chemical substances have leaked from their containers, however diving operations within the river have been halted whereas the state of affairs is assessed.
Dramatic video filmed by an area councillor who went to the bridge to attract consideration to cracks in it confirmed the beginning of the collapse.
Councillor Elias Junior mentioned he by no means anticipated the bridge to really collapse when he was there and was “in shock”.
Eight autos plunged into the river, together with the three lorries containing chemical substances.
Folks within the cities of Estreito and Aguiarnopolis, on both facet of the river, have been advised to keep away from amassing water from it.
Rescue operations are being carried out from boats. 4 our bodies have been recovered, together with the feminine driver of one of many vehicles and an 11-year-old lady, the hearth service mentioned. One man was rescued alive from the water on Sunday.
The Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira bridge – which is greater than half a kilometre (1,600ft) lengthy – was constructed within the Nineteen Sixties and is the primary hyperlink between the 2 states throughout the Tocantins river.
