Heart-stopping video showed the moment a bridge began to crumble in Brazil before the span completely collapsed, leaving two people dead and 14 still missing.
The Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Bridge, which links the cities of Estreito and Aguiarnópolis over the Tocantins River, began to buckle on Sunday at the exact moment a local councilman was filmed detailing its deterioration.
The collapse sent 10 vehicles plummeting into the river below.
Authorities in the state of Maranhão confirmed that two people died in the collapse, while officials in the state of Tocantins said 14 people were still missing as of Monday morning.
The Tocantins Military Police said Monday that the Navy and fire departments in both states were planning to resume the search for the missing.
Authorities have expressed concerns over the conditions of the Tocantins River because two trucks that plunged from the bridge were transporting sulfuric acid.
The Estreito Civil Defense said that the trucks dumped around 120,000 liters of sulfuric acid and about 22,500 liters of insecticides and herbicides.
Elias Junior, a councilman in Aguiarnópolis, was being recorded as he detailed the bridge’s deteriorating conditions, which he said was caused by the constant passage of cargo trucks.
Vehicles stopped on a section of the Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Bridge after the asphalt crumbled moments before the center span gave way and sent 10 vehicles falling into the Tocantins River on Sunday. Two people have been confirmed dead
Aerial video of the central span of the Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Bridge, which collapsed Sunday. Authorities confirmed that two people died in the collapse and 14 were still missing as of Monday morning
The councilman’s video showed vehicles, including a semi truck, driving onto the bridge as he pointed out cracks near the span.
A section of the bridge suddenly gave way as two people on a motorcycle approached it.
A second video filmed by a bystander showed the main span of the bridge fully collapsing.
Junior told a Brazilian news outlet that he was planning to walk to the middle of the bridge to capture images of defects along span, which opened in 1960.
Elias Junior, a local councilman, was being recorded as he detailed the deteriorating conditions at the Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Bridge, which links the cities of Estreito and Aguiarnópolis over the Tocantins River
‘We came to show the situation, which is worrying. Many people were talking about the cracks in it,’ the councilman said.
‘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,’ he added.
‘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.’
Junior said the National Department of Transportation had filled potholes in the past.
‘But the holes kept opening up again,’ he said.
‘There were rumors of a new bridge. We were demanding it, precisely because of the condition of the bridge,’ Junior added.
Authorities said that two trucks fell into the river and dumped around 120,000 liters of sulfuric acid and about 22,500 liters of insecticides and herbicides
A resident filmed the poor road conditions on the Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Bridge on Saturday, a day before it collapsed
The victims have been identified as Marçon Gley Ferreira, 42, and 25-year-old woman named Alana. Both were riding motorcycles.
A 36-year-old man suffered a fractured leg and was taken to a local medical facility.
The collapse occurred only a day after a man filmed himself on the bridge pointing out dozens of potholes along the span.
‘Have you ever thought about what would happen if this bridge collapsed?’ he said.
‘Have you ever thought about the damage it would do to both municipalities?
A local resident recorded the conditions of the Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Bridge, which showed multiple potholes, a day before it collapsed
‘If a disaster happens here, they’ll say no one warned us. But we’re here to warn you.’
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took to X to send condolences to the families of the victims.
He said that the Minister of Transportation, Renan Filho, would be visiting the scene 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,’ Filho wrote on X.
