4 Mar 2001

Hintze Ribeiro Disaster

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The 116-year-old metal bridge at Entre-os-Rios linked the towns of Castelo de Paiva and Penafiel in Portugal. One Sunday evening, 4 March, a bus with locals on excursion and two cars were swallowed up by the river when the bridge collapsed.

The 200-meter long bridge is believed to have collapsed after one of its support pillars gave way due to prolonged heavy rain fall. Parts of the structure crashed in the river, taking the vehicles with it. More than 70 people died.

The collapse of the bridge resulted in a political crisis for Antonio Gueterres 5-year socialist rule. The morning after the accident the minister for Public Affairs, Mr. Coelho, along with his entire staff of five persons, resigned. Mr. Coelho had been the president’s right hand and his resignation contributed to the people’s dissatisfaction with the president.

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