Heart-stopping moment bridge is wiped out in ‘apocalyptic’ Brazil floods & roads turn to rivers killing 39

SHOCKING footage shows the moment a bridge collapsed and vanished in "apocalyptic" Brazil floods which killed at least 39 people.

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

Footage of the calamity shows cars and cows being swept away by the raging river as buildings and roads crumble.

One clips shows the moment a bridge caves in and completely vanishes in the rapid current.

In another video, a crossing can be seen snapping in half with a huge chunk of the road disappearing in the water below.

Debris and ruins of collapsed houses can be seen floating in the river as damages are estimated to be at $20million.

The massive floods, triggered by heavy rainfall, caused destruction in nearly 150 municipalities.

More than 15,000 residents have been displaced in the south of Brazil since Saturday.

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

At least half a million people have been left without power and clean water across the state after a hydroelectric dam burst, sending a 6ft wave and causing more panic.

The wet misery is expected to continue as forecast said the state's main Guaiba River would reach an extraordinary level of 13ft on Friday.

The state governor Eduardo Leite said: "It's not just another critical case, it's 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 it will be even more."

On Thursday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited the region battered by floods and promised to "minimize the suffering this extreme event is causing in the state."

The federal government would pour all human and material resources possible, the president assured.

He added: "Everything that is within reach of our government will be done to attend to the needs of the people who are being affected by these rains."

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

Images show soldiers scrambling to rescue people trapped on top of the roofs of their sinking houses.

Some locals have jumped in to assist the rescue efforts, with fisherman Guilverto Luiz saying: "I came here to help people, to get them out of the flooding 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, the flooding is too intense to land and helicopters had to winch people to safety.

People have been urged to evacuate but steer clear of highways due to fears of mudslides.

Mayor Sandra Backes of Sinimbu described the situation in her town as a "nightmare".

In an Instagram video, she said: "Sinimbu is like a war zone, completely destroyed... All the stores, businesses, supermarkets -- everything is devastated."