Brazilians forced to cross river by boat after fatal bridge collapse

A bridge collapse in northeastern Brazil on December 22 has left residents stranded, forcing them to cross the Tocantins River by boat, while rescue efforts continue for the missing. The disaster has disrupted transport and raised environmental concerns.

A major bridge collapse in northeastern Brazil has left residents of Estreito and Aguiarnopolis stranded, forcing them to rely on boats to cross the Tocantins River. The central span of the 533-meter bridge, which connects Maranhao and Tocantins states, collapsed on Sunday, December 22, as vehicles were crossing, resulting in at least four fatalities and more than 10 people still missing. Rescue operations are underway, with divers ready to search for the victims' bodies once the area is deemed safe.

Locals expressed concerns about the disruption to daily life, as the bridge was a vital link for transporting essential goods, including food, and for workers commuting between the two cities. "It was hard for people to transit. Due to the lack of food, I’ve been crossing goods I bought to distribute with people and their towns. Things have been hard,” said Matheus, a local boat owner and driver.

Taxi services have also been severely affected. "There was a large flow of vehicles before the collapse. Sadly, it collapsed and now there’s none (no clients hiring my taxi services). Things will definitely be more expensive. For now, we only have transport by boat,” said Marcelo, a local taxi driver.

In addition to the rescue efforts, authorities are concerned about potential water contamination after trucks carrying hazardous materials such as sulfuric acid and agricultural pesticides fell into the river during the collapse. Efforts to locate the bodies of victims continue, while officials prioritize public health and safety in the aftermath of the disaster.

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