Toxic spill fears follow Brazil bridge collapse

There are fears of water contamination after a bridge collapsed in northern Brazil at the weekend, sending trucks carrying thousands of liters of pesticides and sulfuric acid into the river below.

Four people are known to have died, and more than 10 are missing after a bridge between the Tocantins and Maranhão regions collapsed on Sunday afternoon.

It is not known whether the chemicals were spilled or how much was in the containers, but diving operations in the river have been suspended while investigations are carried out.

Dramatic video taken by a local councilor who went to the bridge to show the cracks that appeared showed the beginning of the collapse.

Councilor Elias Junior said he did not expect the bridge to collapse when he was there and was “scared”.

Eight vehicles fell into the river, including three trucks containing medicine.

Residents of the cities of Estreito and Aguiarnopolis, on both sides of the river, have been told to avoid taking water.

Rescue operations are underway in boats. Four bodies have been found, including the female driver of one of the vehicles and an 11-year-old girl, the fire department said. A man was rescued alive from the water on Sunday.

The Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Bridge – which is more than half a kilometer (1,600ft) long – was built in the 1960s and is the main link between the two countries across the Tocantins River.