RIO DE JANEIRO, April 6 (Xinhua) -- A bridge partially collapsed and fell into a river in Para state in northern Brazil in the early hours of Saturday, and there may be victims, authorities said.
According to local authorities, part of the bridge which crosses the Moju River collapsed after a ferry crashed against one of the pillars.
Two cars were reportedly crossing the bridge at the time of the accident, but so far information on deaths and injuries has not been disclosed. It is not known whether any passenger in the ferry was injured, either.
Three months ago, a technical inspection found problems with corrosion and worn-out pillars on this bridge, but without risk of collapse.
At the time, the state government announced emergency measures, including placing fences to avoid crashes of boats against the pillars, but vehicle traffic on the bridge was maintained.
It is not the first time a crash like that occurred in the area. Five years ago, another bridge over the Moju River, part of the same highway network, also collapsed after a ferry crashed onto one of the pillars.
