Hintze Ribeiro disaster

At about 21:00 on the night of 4 March 2001, the Hintze Ribeiro disaster occurred when the steel and concrete Hintze Ribeiro Bridge collapsed in Entre-os-Rios, Castelo de Paiva, northern Portugal, killing 59 people, including those in a bus from the Asadouro company and three cars that were crossing the Douro river. Fast waters and a storm at the time gave no chance for an immediate rescue, and the victims drowned. The strong river current carried bodies downstream more than 30 kilometers to the Atlantic ocean. Bodies were found as far away as the north coast of Spain and one even in France. Hours after the accident, the Minister of Social Equipment Jorge Coelho resigned. The following week, dozens of bridges across Portugal were closed for immediate repair. The tragedy caused widespread shock across the nation, with all television networks broadcasting continuous news bulletins, and many solidarity campaigns being organized to help the victims' relatives.

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