There is no risk of contamination in the waters of the Tocantins River, in the region where the Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira bridge collapsed, between Maranhão and Tocantins. With this, the water is free for consumption. The information was passed on by the governor of Maranhão, Carlos Brandão, on a social network.
According to Brandão, the National Water and Basic Sanitation Agency (ANA) issued a technical opinion that there is no risk of contamination in the river’s waters. There was a risk that the collapse of three trucks when the bridge collapsed on December 22, carrying around 25 thousand liters of pesticides and 76 tons of sulfuric acid, a corrosive chemical, could contaminate the water.
“The National Water and Basic Sanitation Agency (ANA) has just issued a technical opinion stating that there is no risk of contamination in the waters of the Tocantins River in terms of the consumption process. With this, I inform you that the collection of water to supply Imperatriz will resume immediately. Other analyzes are being carried out, with the support of our @GovernoMA teams, to guarantee everyone’s complete safety,” he said. Brandão last night (24).
On Monday (23), authorities in Tocantins and Maranhão launched an alert for the population to avoid consumption, use and bathing in the waters of the Tocantins River, in the region where the bridge collapsed.
The warning was issued after confirming the presence of cargo containing dangerous substances, including agricultural pesticides and corrosive chemicals, such as sulfuric acid. The guidance was aimed especially at the populations of Aguiarnópolis, Maurilândia do Tocantins, Tocantinópolis, São Miguel do Tocantins, Praia Norte, Carrasco Bonito, Sampaio, Itaguatins, São Sebastião do Tocantins and Esperantina, in Tocantins.
In Maranhão, the alert applies to the cities of Estreito, Porto Franco, Campestre, Ribamar Ficane, Governador Edson Lobão, Imperatriz, Cidelândia, Vila Nova dos Martírios and São Pedro da Água Branca.
In addition to the recommendation that residents of affected municipalities avoid any direct contact with water from the Tocantins River, including bathing and drinking water, the collection of water for Imperatriz’s water supply was also suspended.
THE ANA, together with the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources of Maranhão (SEMA) collected water quality samples from the Tocantins River at five points from the dam of the Estreito hydroelectric plant, on the border between Tocantins and Maranhão, to the municipality of Imperatriz (MA), located downstream from the point of collapse.
After the opinion, the agency informed that the tests will continue to be carried out. The Government of Tocantins has not yet announced whether it has also released consumption to municipalities.
The collapse of the bridge left four people dead (three women and one man). Another 13 people remain missing. The searches were resumed this Wednesday (25) with boats by the Fire Department.
