Bridge in Taisha collapses and the truck that was crossing it falls with its occupants into the river; there are seven wounded

A truck, carrying children and adults, fell into the Macuma River when a cable from the bridge they were crossing yielded and it immediately collapsed. It happened after noon on Monday 1, in the Pimpints sector, in the Taisha canton, in the Morona Santiago province, in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

An initial ECU911 report speaks of seven injured so far, who were taken to Taisha Basic Hospital for medical attention.

According to Luis Nawech, president of the Provincial Federation of the Shuar Center of Morona Santiago, Pastaza, the accident was serious. Note that there are some of consideration. And that at the time of the terrible event, the truck was with several children and older adults.

He commented that in the locality they are concerned about this event in Taisha, since there would be other bridges in the same condition, which would not have received adequate maintenance. And faced with this, they fear new tragedies with victims to regret.

According to him, there are more bridges, built at different points, that are quite busy and that even circulate vehicles that pass the load or amount of support that these viaducts have in the Amazon.

He believes that this itself would have contributed to the collapse of this bridge in Taisha.

He recalled that previously there was another collapse in Puerto Pamqui and that there were deaths there.

He pointed out that in about eight or nine years since the bridge was built, only the tol and wood have been changed, but not the wiring.

Nawech said that they will carry out the steps to build fixed bridges and that in the meantime they will ask for maintenance work to be carried out, to avoid new tragedies or events like this.

Through ECU911 it was made known that after the alert of the event, the presence of personnel from relief agencies was coordinated. (I)