The Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) confirmed, this Monday (6), the sulfuric acid leak on the Tocantins River, after the collapse of part of the Juscelino Kubitschek bridge, which connects the states of Maranhão and Tocantins, on December 22, 2024.
The collapse of the bridge, located on BR-226 between the cities of Estreito (MA) and Aguiarnópolis (TO), resulted in the fall of three of these trucks carrying dangerous loads: pesticides (Carnadine, PIQUE 240SL and Tractor) and sulfuric acid.
Despite the confirmation of the leak, preliminary analyzes of water quality, carried out jointly by the State Secretariat for the Environment and Natural Resources (Sema/Maranhão) and the National Water Agency (ANA), indicate that the parameters evaluated so far are within normal limits for freshwater, and no impact on local fauna was found.
Preliminary information from dives carried out at the site revealed cracks in one of the sulfuric acid tanks, belonging to the company Pira-Química, which contained 23 thousand liters of the product.
The suspicion is that the tank was damaged during the impact of the fall. An official report with dive information was requested by Ibama from Pira-Química, expected to be delivered on Thursday (9).
Another truck, from the company Videira, transported 40 thousand liters of sulfuric acid. After visual analysis, the tank appears to be intact, but Ibama requested that the company monitor the tank and present a risk analysis for the removal of the vehicle.
The third truck, from the Suminoto company, transported pesticides. The company hired a team to remove the canisters containing the chemical products, with a reconnaissance dive scheduled for this Monday (6).
Ibama activated the three transport companies, responsible for the vehicles with dangerous cargo, in addition to the National Department of Infrastructure and Transport (Dnit), to prepare Emergency Response Plans (PAEs) to remove the trucks from the river.
The removal of chemicals will begin after the search for human victims has been completed, which is being coordinated by the Brazilian Navy and the Civil Defenses of Maranhão and Tocantins.
This content was originally published in Ibama confirms sulfuric acid leak in the Tocantins River after bridge collapse on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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