Frei Paolino Baldassari Bridge collapse investigation

Following the June 5, 2026, collapse of the Frei Paolino Baldassari Bridge in Sena Madureira, Acre, the Public Prosecutor's Office (MPAC) launched a civil inquiry to investigate the causes and responsibilities. The bridge, which spans the Rio Iaco and was inaugurated in December 2023, collapsed causing injuries to at least four people.

Investigators are examining the project’s entire lifecycle, including planning, licensing, and maintenance. A primary focus is the phenomenon of riverbank erosion, known as ‘terras caídas’. While the State Department of Paving and Sanitation (DERACRE) had previously identified geotechnical fragility in the area, it remains unclear if engineering solutions were sufficient to mitigate these risks. The executing company, CIDADE LTDA., has claimed it was not tasked with structural repairs or maintenance.

By September 2026, the investigation had stalled. Authorities have not yet hired a specialized technical company to perform a formal forensic analysis. The General Delegate of the Civil Police of Acre, Pedro Buzolin, stated that the process is ongoing but lacks a fixed deadline due to the complexity of the inquiry and the need for specialized equipment and expertise from outside the state.