Heart-stopping moment: Bridge destroyed in ‘apocalyptic’ floods in Brazil and roads turn into rivers, killing 39 people

SHOCKING images show the moment a bridge collapsed and disappeared in Brazil’s “apocalyptic” floods that killed at least 39 people.

The death toll is expected to rise as 70 people are missing in Rio Grande do Sul as the state suffers “its biggest disaster.”

Images of the calamity show cars and cows swept away by the raging river as buildings and roads crumble.

One of the clips shows the moment when a bridge collapses and completely disappears in the swift current.

In another video, an intersection can be seen splitting in half and a large part of the road disappears into the water.

Debris and ruins of collapsed houses can be seen floating in the river, as damage is estimated at $20 million.

Massive flooding, caused by heavy rain, caused destruction in almost 150 municipalities.

More than 15,000 residents have been displaced in southern Brazil since Saturday.

According to state meteorologists, rainfall reached six inches in some parts of the region in just 24 hours.

At least half a million people were left without power or drinking water across the state after a hydroelectric dam explosion triggered a 6-foot wave and sparked more panic.

The wet misery is expected to continue as the forecast called for the state’s main Guaiba River to reach an extraordinary level of 13 feet on Friday.

The governor of the state, Eduardo Leite, said: “It is not just another critical case, it is the most critical that the state will probably have recorded in its history.”

He added that the state could see more deaths, saying: “With the deepest pain in my heart, I know there will be even more.”

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited the flood-hit region on Thursday and promised to “minimize the suffering that this extreme event is causing in the state.”

The federal government will invest all possible human and material resources, the president assured.

He added: “Everything within our government’s power will be done to address the needs of the people who are being affected by these rains.”

The authorities have sent 626 soldiers and dozens of vehicles and boats to distribute water, food and mattresses and set up shelters.

Footage shows soldiers struggling to rescue people trapped atop the roofs of their sinking homes.

Some locals have joined in to help in the rescue efforts. Fisherman Guilverto Luiz said: “I came here to help the people, to get them out of the flood because it is very dangerous. The current is very strong.”

Lifeboats and helicopters have been deployed to free stranded residents, many of whom are children.

But in some areas, flooding is too intense to land and helicopters have had to fly people to safety.

People have been urged to evacuate but stay off the roads for fear of landslides.

Sinimbu Mayor Sandra Backes described the situation in her town as a “nightmare”.

In an Instagram video, he said: “Sinimbu is like a war zone, completely destroyed… All the shops, businesses, supermarkets… everything is devastated.”