IESTREITO, Brazil (Reuters) – Brazilian state and federal authorities on Tuesday were assessing water pollution risks after trucks loaded with sulfuric acid and agricultural pesticides fell into a river on Sunday in a deadly bridge collapse.
The central section of the 533-meter (583-yard) bridge linking the cities of Estreito in Maranhão state and Aguiarnopolis in Tocantins state collapsed as vehicles were crossing the Tocantins River on Sunday afternoon.
The Maranhão state government and the Tocantins Fire Department confirmed three more deaths in separate statements on Tuesday, bringing the death toll to four, with more than 10 people still missing.
Rescue divers stopped their efforts on Sunday after they discovered trucks transporting sulfuric acid had fallen into the river.
“We are waiting for specific institutions to collect and analyze the water so that we and 25 divers can dive to recover the victims found on the bottom of the Tocantins River,” said Colonel Magnum Coelho of the Maranhão Fire Brigade.
According to the Brazilian water regulator ANA, three trucks carrying a total of 76 metric tons of sulfuric acid and about 25,000 liters of agricultural pesticides fell into the river.
The agency said in a statement Monday evening that it was monitoring the threat of contamination with Maranhão's environment minister, and said water samples would be collected from the Tocantins River.
It was not immediately clear whether chemicals were leaking, and if so, how much.
“Although we still do not have the final analysis results on the pollution, the Ministry of Environment has determined that the water’s pH is normal,” Maranhão state governor Carlos Brandão told CNN Brasil on Monday.
State and federal authorities told cities that might be affected by the incident to avoid collecting water from the Tocantins River.
