El Pao Bridge Collapses, Severing Key Route Between Venezuelan States

The El Pao bridge, a critical infrastructure link connecting San Juan de los Morros in Guárico state with San Sebastián de los Reyes in Aragua state, collapsed Friday afternoon. Images circulating on social media show the catastrophic failure of the road structure.

Authorities in Aragua state, led by Governor Joana Sánchez, have deployed technical and infrastructure teams to the site. Their immediate priority is to assess the full extent of the damage and commence the necessary work to reopen the vital passage.

The collapse has generated significant concern among local officials in San Sebastián de los Reyes, particularly regarding its impact on healthcare services. The severed route critically compromises the ability to transport patients and respond to medical emergencies heading towards the main hospital in San Juan de los Morros, which serves southern Aragua communities.

Local mayor Andrés Aular has publicly addressed the incident, highlighting the disruption caused by the bridge's failure on the road connecting San Juan de los Morros and San Sebastián.