Conveyor belt collapses at Brazil grain terminal after being hit by ferry

A conveyor belt system collapsed at a grain terminal at the port of Barcarena in northern Brazil, according to a navigation sector source and a soybean analyst on Thursday.

The collapse caused grain shipments to be suspended, the two sources said naming ADM and Viterra as responsible for operating the terminal.

The Ponta da Montanha grains terminal confirmed the collapse of the metal structure that supports the conveyor belt. In a statement, it said five people were mildly injured and immediately received medical attention, without elaborating.

ADM and Viterra declined to answer questions about the impact of the collapse on operations, deferring questions to the authorities at the grain terminal.

"The terminal is completely inaccessible," the navigation sector source said. "It cannot receive grains from barges or load vessels."

The conveyor belt collapsed after being hit by a passing barge, according to the navigation sector source. G1, a local media outlet, said a ferry had hit the structure, citing workers present at the scene.

Emergency services rescued eight people, four of whom were injured, the G1 report said. The victims were taken to a municipal hospital and there are not reported casualties, G1 said, citing local authorities.

Reuters could not immediately reach Barcarena officials or the local port authority for comment.

The Ponta da Montanha grains terminal said it is investigating the causes of the incident.

(Reporting by Ana Mano and Roberto Samora; editing by David Evans and Diane Craft)