Divers from the Navy and Fire Departments of Maranhão, Tocantins and Pará found two more bodies, bringing the number of victims from the collapse of the Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Bridge, on BR-226, between Aguiarnópolis (TO) and Estreito (MA) to six. . The accident occurred last Sunday (22), and the search resumed yesterday afternoon (25). Eleven people remain missing.
29 divers are working on underwater rescue. According to the Maranhão Fire Department, the body of one of the victims was inside a truck, which fell into the river at the time of the accident.
The work was resumed after confirmation from the National Water and Basic Sanitation Agency (ANA), which issued a technical opinion stating that there was no risk of contamination in the waters of Tocantins. There was a risk that the river’s waters would be contaminated by the collapse of three trucks carrying around 25,000 liters of pesticides and 76 tons of sulfuric acid, a corrosive chemical.
“Divers face the characteristics of the river, which make visibility difficult and add to the strong current and depth of the accident site. Furthermore, the presence of debris from the bridge and the dangerous cargo of the trucks (sulfuric acid and agricultural pesticides) requires extra care in safety, as these products pose a risk to divers”, said the corporation.
According to firefighters, the use of mapping technology and specific equipment, such as SideScan Sonar, helps locate vehicles that were submerged. In some parts of the river, the depth reaches 40 meters.
In addition, psychological support teams are present on site to offer support to families.
This Thursday (26), the governor of Maranhão, Carlos Brandão, declared three days of official mourning throughout the state. “My solidarity with those affected by this tragedy. I reaffirm our commitment, together with other authorities, to work so that the victims are rescued. I ask that God comfort everyone’s hearts!” wrote Brandão on a social network. (https://x.com/carlosbrandaoma/status/1872235515002736871)
On Monday (23), the governor of Tocantins, Wanderlei Barbosa, had already declared three days of official mourning throughout the state in memory of the victims of the bridge collapse. On a social network, Barbosa said that he was in contact with the Ministry of Transport to find alternative solutions for the traffic interrupted by the collapse of the bridge.
One of the alternatives continues to be the bridge that connects the two states, in the Maranhão city of Imperatriz. Also according to Barbosa, the first ferry should arrive by the weekend to transport the population that needs to cross the states of Tocantins and Maranhão.
