Fears of a toxic spill followed the collapse of a Brazilian bridge

There are fears of water contamination after a bridge collapsed in northern Brazil at the weekend, sending trucks carrying thousands of liters of pesticides and sulfuric acid into a river.

Four people are known to have died and more than 10 are missing after the central span of the bridge connecting the states of Tacantin and Maranyan gave way on Sunday afternoon.

It is unclear when or how much chemicals leaked from the containers, but diving operations in the river have been suspended while the situation is assessed.

Dramatic video taken by a local councilor who approached the bridge to draw attention to cracks in it showed the start of the collapse.

Councilman Elias Jr said he never expected the bridge to actually collapse when he was there and was “in shock”.

Eight cars, including three trucks with chemicals, plunged into the river.

People in the towns of Estreita and Agia Annapolis, on both sides of the river, were told to avoid collecting water from it.

Rescue operations are carried out from boats. Four bodies were found, including the female driver of one of the trucks and an 11-year-old girl, the fire department said. On Sunday, one man was rescued alive from the water.

The Juscelino Kubicek de Oliveira Bridge – more than half a kilometer (1,600 feet) long – was built in the 1960s and is the main link between the two states across the Tocantins River.