Acre prosecutors investigate Frei Paolino Baldassari Bridge collapse

The Public Prosecutor's Office of Acre (MPAC) has opened a civil inquiry to investigate the causes and responsibilities behind the collapse of the Frei Paolino Baldassari Bridge in Sena Madureira. The investigation, formalized by Prosecutor Júlio César de Medeiros Silva, aims to examine the entire lifecycle of the project, including planning, licensing, execution, inspection, and maintenance.

The bridge, which spans the Rio Iaco and was inaugurated in December 2023 at a cost of 36 million reais, collapsed on June 5, 2026, injuring at least four people. A central focus of the inquiry is the erosion of the riverbanks, a phenomenon known locally as ‘terras caídas’. MPAC notes that prior studies by the State Department of Paving and Sanitation (DERACRE) had already identified geotechnical fragility and intense erosion in the area, suggesting the risks were predictable.

Investigators will determine if the engineering solutions implemented were sufficient to mitigate these known risks and whether the erosion was properly accounted for in geological and geotechnical studies. Additionally, the inquiry will examine post-construction conduct, specifically regarding maintenance routines. The executing company, CIDADE LTDA., has stated it was not called upon to perform structural repairs or maintenance, raising questions about the effectiveness of state monitoring.