Sunday, January 27, 2019

Roughly 300 missing from Brazilian mining dam collapse as local community flooded, raising concerns of contamination

By Amanda Schmidt, AccuWeather staff writer
January 27, 2019, 6:17:33 PM EST



A mining dam collapsed in southeastern Brazil on Friday, Jan. 25. Since the accident, the Associated Press confirmed that an estimated 300 people are missing. The dam break also flooded a nearby community, raising concerns of widespread contamination.
Brazilian mining company Vale SA originally said in a statement that it didn't yet have information on deaths or injuries at the dam in Minas Gerais state but said that tailings have reached the community of Vila Ferteco and an administrative office. Parts of the city were evacuated and local firefighters were rescuing people by helicopter and ground vehicles, the Associated Press (AP) reports.
ap brazil dam
A structure lays in ruins after a dam collapsed near Brumadinho, Brazil, Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. Brazilian mining company Vale SA said it didn’t yet have information on deaths or injuries at the dam but said that tailings have reached the community of Vila Ferteco. (Leo Drumond/Nitro via AP)

"We inform you that the disruption of a dam occurred in Brumadinho. We've already triggered the fire department and activated the Emergency Service plan for dams. Our highest priority is to preserve and protect the life of the community," Vale said in a tweet.
The death toll from the dam's collapse rose to 40 on Saturday.
Officials suspended rescue and recovery operations on Sunday morning due to fears of another dam failing, according to the AP. They resumed the search after the several-hour suspension over fears that a second dam was at risk of breach.
Local television channel TV Record showed a firefighter's helicopter hovering inches off the ground as it hoisted a woman covered in mud out of the sludge.

"I regret what happened in Brumadinho-MG. I determined the displacement of the Ministers of Regional Development and mines and energy, as well as our national secretary of Civil defense for the region," Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro said in a tweet.
Bolsonaro said he lamented the incident and was sending the three cabinet ministers to the area.
"Our greatest concern at this time is to meet any victims of this serious tragedy," Bolsonaro said.
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An aerial view shows flooding triggered by a collapsed dam near Brumadinho, Brazil, Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. (Bruno Correia/Nitro via AP)

Vale is Brazil's largest mining company. Vale stocks fell 10 percent on the New York Stock Exchange about two hours after the accident, according to AP News.
The recent tragedy mirrors the 2015 dam collapse in Mariana, Minas Gerais. The dam was administered by Vale and Australian mining company BHP Billiton.
The collapse resulted in 19 deaths, dislocated hundreds from their homes and contaminated a nearby river. It is largely considered Brazil’s largest-ever environmental catastrophe.

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