(Reuters) – A bridge connecting two states in the northern and northeastern regions of Brazil collapsed on Sunday as vehicles crossed, killing at least one person and spilling sulfuric acid into the Tocantins River.
The National Transportation Infrastructure Administration said that the 533-meter-long central span of the bridge, which connects the cities of Estreito in Maranhão state and Aguiarnopolis in Tocantins state, collapsed in the afternoon. Officials said a tanker truck carrying the acid fell into the water.
According to the fire department, one person was confirmed dead and another was rescued alive.
Aguiarnopolis City Council member Elias Junior was recording a video asking authorities to fix problems with the bridge, which he said was no longer able to handle heavy trucks passing over it. As he pointed to a large crack in the shoulder of the bridge, the structure collapsed in front of him, causing him to fall back. Reuters was not immediately able to independently verify the video. Junior did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Initial estimates indicate that at least 11 people were involved in the accident, as two trucks, a car and a motorcycle fell into the river, which is more than 50 meters (164 feet) deep.
By early evening, rescue divers halted their efforts after discovering that one of the submerged tankers was leaking sulfuric acid, the Tocantins Fire Department said.
The Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Bridge, opened in 1960, is built with reinforced concrete and is part of the BR-226 motorway, which connects the federal capital Brasilia to Belém, a northern city set to host next year's UN Climate Change Conference.
