9 minutes agoCaused the deaths of dozens, the Court condemns the company in Brazil with $66 million
Periskopi(7 years ago)
(7 years ago)Brazil's Environment Ministry has fined the mining company “Vales” with $66m after a dam caused a slide that killed at least 10 people and left hundreds missing. The dam's collapse on Friday sent a mud stream over a nearby community. Officials say approximately 300 people are trapped in [...]
The dam's collapse on Friday sent a mud stream over a nearby community. Officials say approximately 300 people have been blocked in the flooded areas of the river of mud released by the dam near the town of Brumadinho, in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais.
Rescue operations continue, but the state governor, Romeu Zema, said Saturday morning that there is little chance of finding living people.
The environment ministry has fined the company “Vales” and is under consideration for regulatory violations and pollution on the eve of disaster.
Fire officials say among the missing are 200 employees who had lunch in the dam administrative area when the decline occurred.
Television footage showed rescue workers in helicopters trying to help people trapped in thick mud. The images also showed damage to homes, vehicles, and large areas of agricultural land.
Authorities have ordered families to evacuate houses in lower areas.
The accident recalls a similar disaster in 2015 when another dam of mines erupted in the same state of Minas Gerais, killing 19 people. This dam was also administered by “Vale”, along with the Australian mining company “BHP Billiton”. The decline of the dam in 2015 released millions of tons of toxic iron waste over hundreds of miles, causing what is considered the worst environmental disaster ever in Brazil.
