Fatal bridge collapse caught on video by councilman asking authorities to fix the decaying structure

A bridge connecting two states has collapsed, killing at least one person, with the moment caught on video by a local politician.

A bridge connecting two states in northern Brazil collapsed on Sunday, killing at least one person and spilling sulfuric acid into the river below, with the moment caught on video by a local politician warning of the poor condition.

Aguiarnopolis city councilman Elias Junior was recording a video asking authorities to fix problems with the bridge connecting Estreito in Maranhao state and Aguiarnopolis in Tocantins state when the tragedy unfolded.

Aguiarnopolis city councilman Elias Junior. Picture: X

The bridge began to collapse during his video. Picture: X

Mr Junior warned that the 64-year-old Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Bridge could no longer handle the heavy trucks passing over it.

As he pointed to a crack in the shoulder, the structure began to collapse in front of him with several vehicles still on top.

At least one person was killed. Picture: X

A tanker truck carrying sulfuric acid fell into the river. Picture: X

The National Department of Transport Infrastructure said the central span of the 533-metre reinforced concrete bridge gave way on Sunday afternoon, sending a tanker truck carrying sulfuric acid into the Tocantins River.

At least 11 people were believed to have been involved in the accident and one confirmed dead, Reuters reports, with two trucks, a car and a motorcycle falling into the 50-metre deep river.

Rescue divers were forced to halt their efforts early on Sunday evening after discovering the tanker was leaking sulfuric acid, the Tocantins fire department said.

The bridge is part of the BR-226 highway connecting the capital Brasilia to the northern city of Belem in Pará state.

Originally published as Fatal bridge collapse caught on video by councilman asking authorities to fix the decaying structure