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Fatal Bridge Collapse in Brazil Claims 8 Lives, Environmental Concerns Mount
The death toll has reached eight in the Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge collapse in northeastern Brazil, with nine individuals still unaccounted for, authorities confirmed Thursday.
The catastrophic collapse occurred Sunday, sending approximately twelve vehicles plunging into the Tocantins River from the bridge connecting Maranhão and Tocantins states. Brazilian Navy divers and firefighters recovered two additional bodies during recent search operations.
The situation became more complex due to hazardous materials involved in the incident. Search efforts were temporarily suspended until the Brazilian Water and Sanitation Agency verified there was no contamination risk from three trucks carrying substantial quantities of dangerous materials - 25,000 liters of pesticides and 76 tons of sulfuric acid - that fell into the river.
Recovery operations face significant challenges, with rescue teams confronting poor visibility and depths of approximately 40 meters at the collapse site. The search area extends several kilometers downstream.
Both affected states have implemented three-day mourning periods. Following directives from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, investigators are examining potential structural deficiencies in the bridge's design as the primary cause of the disaster.