Death toll rises in Brazil dam collapse as mining company faces criticism

NEWS 28.01.201914:01
Douglas Magno / AFP

The number of deaths from a collapsed dam at a Brazilian iron mine rose on Sunday from 37 to 58, a spokesperson for the Civil Defense said.

Authorities say 427 people were in the Córrego do Feijão mine in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais when the dam burst on Friday, unleashing a muddy sea of mining debris into the region.

Hundreds of people are still missing and the extent of damage is still being calculated, especially in the mining town of Brumadinho, which was nearly buried in the deluge.

The latest death toll was announced after rescuers returned to the mine on Sunday afternoon. Authorities temporarily halted search and rescue on Sunday and placed 3,000 people under evacuation orders amid fears that another dam nearby was about to rupture. The orders were lifted after authorities determined dam VI was no longer at risk of bursting.

The disaster renewed scrutiny of Brazilian mining giant Vale, which was linked to another deadly dam collapse in Minas Gerais less than four years ago. Protesters gathered in Casa Branca, about 15 kilometres from Brumadinho, waving signs that read “Vale kills” and “Vale profits while mud kills,” local media reported.

The breach flooded parts of Minas Gerais and buried most of Brumadinho, according to footage from CNN affiliate Record TV. Debris spilled into the mine’s administrative area, where employees were working, Vale said.

Heavy rains hampered search and rescue. Video showed helicopters hovering feet above the ground as firefighters plucked people from the muck.

At least 361 people have been found and 305 are still missing, Civil Defense spokesperson Col. Flavio Godinho said.

Additionally, 23 people are hospitalized, the fire department said. Nineteen victims have been identified, Godinho said.

Officials say they expect to contain the sludgy mine waste known as tailings within two days. The Brazilian National Water Agency said they are monitoring the tailings and coordinating plans for supplying water to the affected region.

Attorney General André Mendonça said Vale is responsible for the disaster – the second of its kind in three years involving the mining company.

Authorities called the 2015 Mariana dam collapse the worst environmental disaster in the country’s history. The collapse killed 19 people and wreaked havoc on the environment, leading mining company Samarco – a joint venture between Vale and BHP Billiton – to reach a deal in 2016 with the Brazilian government to pay up to 24 billion reals ($6.2 billion).

In a company video over the weekend, Vale chief Fabio Schvartsman called the Brumadinho dam break “inexcusable” and asked the Brazilian public for forgiveness. He said the company will aid victims and noted that Vale put “immense effort” into improving its dams after the disaster in Mariana.

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