Fatshimetrie is an online news portal that aims to provide fresh and relevant news to readers around the world. Recently, a tragedy occurred in Brazil, causing concern and dismay. Indeed, Brazilian authorities have opened an investigation following the collapse of a bridge last Sunday, which resulted in the death of at least four people and the fall of trucks loaded with sulfuric acid and pesticides into a river, raising concerns about water contamination.
The Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira, a 533-meter-long bridge connecting the northeastern cities of Estreito and Aguiarnópolis, collapsed, leaving about 15 people missing. According to state news agency Agencia Brasil, four trucks, three cars and three motorcycles fell into the Tocantins River. Three women and one man died in the collapse, as reported by the Maranhão Fire Department.
The trucks were carrying about 25,000 liters of pesticides and 76 tons of sulfuric acid, according to the National Agency for Water and Basic Sanitation, raising fears of environmental damage. Authorities warned residents not to drink or bathe in the river water. Due to the presence of sulfuric acid in the river, the search for the missing has been suspended, as reported by CNN Brazil.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed his condolences to the victims’ families in a message on social media and said his government would support local authorities in managing the emergency. Brazil’s National Department of Transport Infrastructure has opened an investigation into the causes of the collapse, according to an official statement. The Navy will also deploy equipment and boats to continue the search for the 13 missing, officials said.
The government also announced that a new company will be contracted to design and build a new bridge that will be ready in about a year. This tragedy has not only claimed lives, but also raises urgent questions about infrastructure safety and environmental protection. It is essential that strict measures are taken to avoid such disasters in the future and ensure the safety of citizens and the preservation of the ecosystem.