Pedestrian Overpass Collapses In Rio De Janeiro, Two Dead, Several Critically Injured, Traffic Halted Overnight

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil— A pedestrian overpass collapsed in Rio de Janeiro Monday, killing two people and critically injuring several others as concrete and steel crashed onto cars and motorcycles below during afternoon traffic. The structure fell in one piece.

The collapse hit around 3:20 p.m. on Avenida Brasil, one of the city's busiest arteries. The overpass, used by workers to cross between factories and bus stops, gave way without warning. Witnesses said they heard a loud crack, then dust. Two cars were crushed. A motorcycle was buried.

Firefighters confirmed two deaths, a man and a woman inside a car. At least six others were injured, three critically with head trauma. A paramedic at the scene said, "We pulled a driver out alive but his legs were trapped under a slab. People were screaming under concrete."

Traffic was paralyzed for kilometers. Avenida Brasil was shut both ways. Buses were diverted. Commuters walked home. The city has hundreds of aging overpasses built in the 1970s. Many show rust and cracks. Maintenance has been cut for years.

The mayor's office said the overpass had been inspected last year and showed no immediate risk. Documents pulled by local press show a report noting corrosion on support beams and recommending repairs that were never done. The contractor responsible is now under investigation.

Residents nearby said they felt the bridge shake when heavy trucks passed. One worker who used it daily said, "It swayed. We joked it would fall one day. Today it did." The structure had no warning signs or weight limits posted.

Engineers from the city arrived to check nearby overpasses with similar design. Two more were closed as a precaution. That raised fears of wider infrastructure failure. Rio's budget for bridge upkeep was reduced by 18 percent this year.

Families of victims waited at Souza Aguiar Hospital. Officials said identification is underway and psychological support is being offered. The public prosecutor opened a criminal inquiry.

Tonight cranes are lifting slabs while firefighters search for anyone else trapped under the rubble as rain starts.