Fatalities rise following bridge collapse in Brazil

The Brazilian Navy successfully recovered the body of a victim on January 1, from a truck cabin that had remained submerged following the collapse of the Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Bridge. 

The incident occurred on December 22 on the BR-226, which connects the states of Maranhão and Tocantins. The collapse of the bridge has led to the confirmed deaths of at least 12 individuals, with five people still unaccounted for, Caliber.Az reports via Brazilian media.

On December 31, the search and rescue team, equipped with divers and flotation devices, retrieved a white Voyage vehicle from the depths of the Tocantins River. Inside the vehicle, rescuers found one previously identified body and another previously missing person, raising the death toll to 12. Five people are still missing.

“The Navy expresses its heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the victims and encourages the public to report any concerns regarding the safety of human life in navigable waterways or potential environmental risks,” a Navy spokesperson stated.

The central span of the bridge gave way on the afternoon of December 22, causing at least 10 vehicles, including three trucks carrying approximately 25,000 liters of pesticides and 76 tonnes of sulfuric acid, to plunge into the river below. The National Water Agency (ANA) has confirmed that there was no leak of hazardous materials into the water, following a thorough analysis of water quality in the region.

The Ministry of Transport revealed that the bridge, inaugurated in 1961, had become increasingly insufficient to handle the growing traffic and cargo volume. As part of an ongoing investigation, the Federal Police is examining the cause of the collapse, while the National Department of Transport Infrastructure has opened a separate inquiry to assess responsibility for the incident. A commission has been established and has 120 days to deliver its findings.

In response to the tragedy, the Ministry of Transport has contracted a company to oversee the reconstruction of the Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Bridge. The work, valued at R$ 171.9 million, is expected to be completed by December 22, 2025—one year after the bridge’s collapse.

The contract, awarded on an emergency basis to avoid lengthy bidding processes, has been given to the Penedo-Neópolis consortium, comprising Construtora Gaspar S/A and Arteles Construções Limitada. The reconstruction of the bridge will be a critical step in restoring vital transportation links between the states of Maranhão and Tocantins.

By Vugar Khalilov