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In the night of March 4, 2001, the Hintze Ribeiro disaster occurred when Hintze Ribeiro Bridge collapsed in Castelo de Paiva, Portugal. The bridge collapsed, killing up to 70 people, including those in a bus and three cars, which were attempting to get to the other side of the Douro river. Fast waters and a storm at the time gave no chance for an immediate rescue, and the victims drowned. Although the site of the accident was more than 30 kilometers (18 miles) away from the sea, the strong river current meant that bodies were found as far away as the north coast of Spain. The causes of the disaster have not yet been established, and as of 2006, the case is still on trial. The bridge was more than 70 years old. Hours after the accident, the then Minister of Transportation 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.
