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Brazil probes risks from chemicals after tankers plunged off collapsed bridge

Brazilian state and federal authorities were evaluating on Tuesday the dangers of water contamination after trucks bring sulfuric acid and farming pesticides plunged into a river on Sunday in a. deadly bridge collapse.

The central span of a 533-meter (583-yard) bridge that links. the cities of Estreito in Maranhao state and Aguiarnopolis in. Tocantins specify gave way as cars were crossing above the. Tocantins River on Sunday afternoon.

The Maranhao state federal government and the Tocantins fire. department verified three more deaths in different declarations on. Tuesday, raising the death toll to 4, and with more than 10. individuals still missing.

Rescue scuba divers had actually stopped their efforts on Sunday after. finding that trucks transferring sulfuric acid had actually plunged into. the river.

We are waiting for specific organizations to collect and. analyze the water so that we, in addition to 25 divers, can dive to. retrieve the victims that are on the bed of the Tocantins. River, Maranhao fire brigade Colonel Magnum Coelho said.

According to Brazilian water regulator ANA, three trucks. carrying a total of 76 metric lots of sulfuric acid and about. 25,000 liters of agricultural pesticides plunged into the river.

In a declaration on Monday night, the agency stated it was. monitoring the risk of contamination together with Maranhao's. environmental secretary, and said that water samples would be. gathered from the Tocantins River.

It was not immediately clear if the chemicals were. dripping, and if so by how much.

Despite the fact that we still don't have last analysis results on. contamination, the Environment Ministry identified that the water pH. was regular, Maranhao state Guv Carlos Brandao told television. channel CNN Brasil on Monday.

State and federal authorities have actually informed cities that could be. impacted by the event to prevent gathering water from the. Tocantins River.

(source: Reuters)