Bridge collapses in Brazil as floods cause widespread destruction | Global News

Brazil is facing a catastrophic situation as record-breaking floods continue to wreak havoc in the country. The latest incident involves a bridge collapsing into a river in Santa Maria, Rio Grande de Sul, adding to the devastation caused by the ongoing floods.

A dramatic video captured by BBC shows the bridge breaking from its supports at both ends and plummeting into the fast-flowing river below. Onlookers can be seen on both sides of the collapsing bridge, with one man narrowly escaping falling into the river. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties or injuries from the incident.

This incident comes just a day after a hydroelectric dam collapsed in the state, submerging towns between the municipalities of Cotiporã and Bento Gonçalves under water. The relentless downpour in Rio Grande de Sul state began on Monday and is expected to continue until Friday.

Reports indicate that 39 people have lost their lives in the floods, with 68 individuals still missing. To address the dire situation, the state government has declared a state of public calamity in the region.

State Governor Eduardo Leite expressed that the current situation surpasses the impact of last year’s rains in the state. The extreme weather patterns in Brazil, characterized by droughts in the north and heavy rainfall in the south, are exacerbated by the effects of El Niño, which have been particularly severe this year.

The Brazilian authorities are working tirelessly to manage the crisis and provide assistance to those affected by the devastating floods.