The span of the 1960s-built Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Bridge began to collpase at the exact moment a local councilman was recording the site and complaining of its condition
Brazil: Bridge collapses sending cars plummeting into Tocantins River
This is the terrifying moment huge cracks appear on a bridge in Brazil before the entire span collapses – sending ten cars flying into the river below, with two people dead and fourteen still missing.
The 1960s-built Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Bridge, which links two cities over the Tocantins River, began to crumble on Sunday at the exact moment a local councilman was filming a video at the site complaining of its condition. Ten vehicles, including two motorbikes, three lorries and a car were on the bridge when it plummeted.
Councilman Elias Junior was being recorded as he pointed out the bridge’s deteriorating conditions, and only seconds in, a large chunk of the bridge collpased into the water as two people on a motorcycle approached it. A van was seen slowing down on the other side as the ground opened up just a few feet away.
“We came to show the situation, which is worrying. Many people were talking about the cracks in it,” Junior told a Brazilian news outlet.
“I came to show it, but I didn’t imagine that at that moment of filming the bridge would collapse. I’m still in shock, in disbelief. I filmed it to demand the competent authorities, and it was right at that moment that it collapsed. We left in despair with our hands on our heads.”
According to authorities in Maranhão, two people died in the collapse, while officers in Tocantins said fourteen people remained missing as of Monday morning. The ten vehicles that were sent plummeting into the river below and are thought to include two motorbikes, three lorries and a car that were on the bridge as it started to crumble.
The victims were later identified as Marçon Gley Ferreira, 42, and 25-year-old woman named Alana, who were both riding motorcycles. A search for the missing people will continue to be carried out by navy and fire departments in both states, officials said.
Councilman Junior said potholes in the surrounding area were filled by the National Department of Transportation in the past. “But the holes kept opening up again,” he said. “There were rumours of a new bridge. We were demanding it, precisely because of the condition of the bridge.”
Authorities say they are now concerned over the conditions of the Tocantins River as two of the trucks that had fallen from the bridge were transporting sulfuric acid. According to the Estreito Civil Defense, the trucks dumped around 120,000 liters of sulfuric acid and roughly 22,500 liters of insecticides and herbicides.
Taking to X to send his condolences, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said that the Minister of Transportation, Renan Filho, would be visiting the bridge to “provide all the federal government’s assistance in resuming the rescue of victims and investigating what happened.”
“We will inspect the bridge over the Tocantins River that collapsed yesterday […] determine who is responsible for what happened, take the appropriate measures for the moment and start work to restore this important connection between the two states,” he added.