News reports or official statements from Brazilian infrastructure authorities

Bridge Collapse in Brazil Claims One Life, Three Trucks Fell, Two Missing; Lula Expresses Condolences

Dec 22, 2024, 08:48 PM

A tragic accident occurred on December 22, 2024, when the Juscelino Kubitschek bridge, connecting the states of Tocantins and Maranhão, collapsed. The incident resulted in at least one confirmed death, with two individuals reported missing and one hospitalized. The bridge, which spans the Rio Tocantins, was in use at the time of the collapse, leading to three trucks falling into the water. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the bridge's structural integrity was already a concern, as a local councilor was recording a video to highlight its deteriorating condition when the collapse happened. Emergency services have been deployed to search for the missing individuals. In response to the tragedy, local and federal officials, including President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, expressed their condolences and solidarity with the victims' families. The government has announced the closure of the bridge and is investigating the causes of the collapse, with alternative routes being provided for travelers in the region. This incident follows another tragedy earlier the same day, where a small aircraft crashed in Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul, resulting in ten fatalities, further compounding the national grief over these events.