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Brazil Bridge Collapse: Spilling Sulfuric Acid Into River, 1 Dead

On Sunday, an incident occurred that was devastating. A bridge joining the north and northeastern parts of Brazil collapsed. At least one person died, and dangerous sulfuric acids spilled into the Tocantins River. The Juscelino Kubitschek De Oliveira bridge, a crucial part of the BR-226 Highway, collapsed while cars were crossing. Two trucks, a vehicle, and a motorcycle fell into the Tocantins River.

According to the National Department of Transport Infrastructure, the bridge’s central span, which connects the two cities of Estreito in Maranhao and Aguiarnopolis in Tocantins, collapsed in the late afternoon under the pressure of traffic. A tanker truck carrying acid sulfuric acid was tragically among those vehicles that fell into the river. This chemical spill has caused environmental concern in the area.

At least eleven people were involved, according to initial reports. A confirmed death has been reported, while another person was saved alive. Rescue divers were suspended early that evening by the Tocantins Fire Department after they discovered that one submerged tanker was leaching sulfuric acid. The river is more than 50 meters deep.

A video taken by Aguiarnopolis City Councilman Elias Junior showed the condition of the bridge before it collapsed. Junior, who was recording footage and urging the authorities to fix the bridge by pointing out a crack on the structure at the time of the collapse, had been pointing to the large crack when he captured the video. Junior was forced to flee after watching the dramatic video of the bridge crumbling. Reuters has yet to verify this video independently.

The Juscelino Kubitschek De Oliveira bridge, built in reinforced concrete in 1960 and inaugurated, is a vital link between Brasilia (the federal capital) and Belem in the north, which will host next year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference. Local officials have been warning about the deterioration of this bridge for many years.

Authorities and environmental agencies are assessing the potential environmental damage caused by the sulfuric spill.

The Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Bridge

In 1960, the Juscelino Kubitschek De Oliveira bridge was built to improve connectivity between Brasilia with major monetary centers in north Brazil. The strengthened concrete design was meant to be able to handle heavy traffic. Still, decades of usage and strain on the infrastructure have caused significant wear.

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