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Truck With 110 Cattle Breaks Steel Cable, Partially Sinks, Causes Emergency Closure of Ferry Between Manga and Matias Cardoso, Mobilizes Civil Defense and Military Police, and Exposes Recurring Risks in Heavy Animal Transport During River Crossing

Published on 20/01/2026 at 23:43
Updated on 20/01/2026 at 23:44
Carreta de bois na balsa Manga Matias Cardoso caiu no Rio São Francisco; Defesa Civil apura cabo de aço e reforça segurança na travessia. Foto: Defesa Civil de Manga
Carreta de bois na balsa Manga Matias Cardoso caiu no Rio São Francisco; Defesa Civil apura cabo de aço e reforça segurança na travessia. Foto: Defesa Civil de Manga
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Accident on the Crossing of the São Francisco River Interrupted the Ferry that Connects Manga to Matias Cardoso This Monday, After the Steel Cable Gave Way Under the Weight of a Truck with 110 Cattle. Civil Defense, Military Police, and Machines from the Company Acted; Driver Came Out Unhurt and the Operation Was Suspended.

The truck with 110 cattle was partially submerged in the São Francisco River this Monday (19), on the ferry crossing between Manga and Matias Cardoso, in Northern Minas, after a steel cable broke and left the vehicle partially underwater.

According to the Civil Defense of Manga, the cattle were being transported in the vehicle that was headed from Montalvânia to Capitão Enéas, and the driver was unharmed. The occurrence led to the emergency closure of the ferry and mobilized teams to mitigate risks and organize the removal of the truck.

What Happened on the Crossing Between Manga and Matias Cardoso

The incident occurred when the truck loaded with 110 cattle was on the ferry used to cross the São Francisco River between the municipalities of Manga and Matias Cardoso.

With the vehicle already in position, the steel cable could not support the weight and gave way.

This steel cable plays a central role in the operation: it is what keeps the ferry docked at the riverbank, helping to stabilize the structure during boarding, disembarking, and when stationary.

With the rupture, the truck ended up with its rear in the water, in a position that required immediate response to prevent movement and increase the risk.

Why the Ferry Was Closed and How the Containment Was Done

With the truck partially in the river, the priority was to prevent the vehicle from moving and worsening the situation.

For this reason, the tow remained connected, precisely to reduce the chance of movement of the truck involved in the incident while the teams assessed the scenario and planned the next steps.

The Civil Defense closed the site as soon as it became aware of the accident, maintaining direct oversight of the work.

The operation also counted on support from the Military Police, reinforcing control of the area and safety during the response, as the crossing point is a thoroughfare and may attract onlookers.

Route of the Cargo and Situation of the Driver

The truck was transporting 110 cattle and was headed from Montalvânia to Capitão Enéas, as informed by the coordinator of the Civil Defense of Manga, Paulo Sérgio Nunes Serqueira.

Despite the scare and the complexity of the incident, the driver was unharmed, an important detail in an accident that involved a high weight and direct contact of the vehicle with the river.

The presence of cattle in the transport adds even more sensitivity to the occurrence, because any delay or operational instability requires extra caution to preserve the safety of the team, the driver, and the living cargo itself, especially in a river crossing environment.

Removal of the Truck and Support from the Company’s Machines

The company responsible for the cargo provided machinery to assist in the truck’s removal.

This support is crucial in such situations, as access to the ferry point does not always allow for simple maneuvers, and the total weight of a loaded cattle truck tends to require appropriate mechanical resources for repositioning and removal.

While the work was being organized, the guidance was to maintain maximum stability, with continuous monitoring and restriction of traffic at the site.

The logic was to reduce the number of variables around the truck and create a more predictable operational environment, as any involuntary movement could increase submersion and complicate the rescue.

Traffic of Trucks with Animals Is Common in the Region

The Civil Defense highlighted that the traffic of trucks with animals in the area is common, which adds weight to the case: this is not an isolated event on a rare route, but a recurring type of circulation at the crossing.

In practice, this reinforces the need for ongoing attention to factors such as weight, stability, and structural conditions of the docking system, because frequent use by heavy loads tends to require rapid responses, consistent protocols, and safe operation to avoid repeated interruptions and risky situations.

When the Crossing Was Allowed Again

After the emergency closure, the ferry remained stationary while the problem was addressed and work progressed under the oversight of the Civil Defense and support from the Military Police.

The crossing was closed until around 7 PM, when the operation was permitted to resume.

Even with the restart, the episode sends a clear signal to those who depend on the crossing: a single point of failure, like the steel cable, can paralyze the entire route, impacting local movements and transportation operations, especially when they involve heavy loads and animals.

Do you think there should be a stricter rule to limit weight and type of cargo on the ferry between Manga and Matias Cardoso to reduce new accidents with cattle?

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Maria Heloisa Barbosa Borges

Falo sobre construção, mineração, minas brasileiras, petróleo e grandes projetos ferroviários e de engenharia civil. Diariamente escrevo sobre curiosidades do mercado brasileiro.

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