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At least 15 dead after Brazil iron mine dam bursts and floods nearby homes At least 15 feared dead after Brazil iron ore mine dam bursts and floods homes
(35 minutes later)
A dam has burst at an iron ore mine in south-eastern Brazil, killing at least 15 people, submerging nearby homes and burying vehicles. A dam has burst at an iron ore mine in south-eastern Brazil, and is thought to have killed at least 15 people, submerging nearby homes and burying vehicles.
Forty-five people were still missing after the disaster in Minas Gerais state, a local union told the G1 news portal. Forty-five people were still missing after the disaster in Minas Gerais state, a local union told the G1 news portal. The mine is operated by Samarco, a joint venture between the Anglo-Australian mining giant, BHP Billiton, and the Brazilian company Vale.
Video footage on the G1 website showed houses of a village destroyed by muddy tailings waters that surged down valleys in the hilly region of the mines. Video footage on the G1 website showed houses of a village destroyed by muddy waters that surged down valleys in the mountainous region.
There was no official confirmation on the number of dead and missing. The civil defence agency of Minas Gerais state said one body had been recovered.There was no official confirmation on the number of dead and missing. The civil defence agency of Minas Gerais state said one body had been recovered.
The city council told Brazil’s Globo News it was evacuating about 600 people to higher ground from the village of Bento Rodrigues, about 7km (just over 4 miles) beneath the dam that burst, which was flooded as a result of the accident.The city council told Brazil’s Globo News it was evacuating about 600 people to higher ground from the village of Bento Rodrigues, about 7km (just over 4 miles) beneath the dam that burst, which was flooded as a result of the accident.
The mining company Samarco, a joint venture between Brazil’s Vale and Australia’s BHP, said in a statement it had not yet determined why the dam burst or the extent of the disaster at its Germano mine near the town of Mariana. Samarco said in a statement it had not yet determined why the dam burst or the extent of the disaster at its Germano mine near the town of Mariana.
Vale directed media questions to Samarco, while BHP did not immediately respond to requests for comment. BHP Billiton said in a statement that it was “concerned for the safety of employees and the local community ... We are in the process of obtaining more details from Samarco Mineracao”.
Vale directed media questions to Samarco.
Authorities said the dam was built to hold back water and residue from mining operations, a mixture that can often be toxic. The dam was holding so-called tailings, a mining waste product of metal filings, water and occasionally chemicals. It was located near a river, fueling fears of potential water contamination.Authorities said the dam was built to hold back water and residue from mining operations, a mixture that can often be toxic. The dam was holding so-called tailings, a mining waste product of metal filings, water and occasionally chemicals. It was located near a river, fueling fears of potential water contamination.
Rescue teams were searching for survivors or bodies, and residents living nearby were told to evacuate to higher ground.Rescue teams were searching for survivors or bodies, and residents living nearby were told to evacuate to higher ground.
Samarco said in a statement on its website that it was making “every effort to prioritize care to people and mitigate damage to the environment”.Samarco said in a statement on its website that it was making “every effort to prioritize care to people and mitigate damage to the environment”.
“It is not possible at this moment to confirm a cause … nor if there are victims,” it added.“It is not possible at this moment to confirm a cause … nor if there are victims,” it added.
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Police, firefighters and city officials also said they could not confirm any victims.Police, firefighters and city officials also said they could not confirm any victims.
A statement from the city hall of Mariana, a city of about 40,000 people 300km (185 miles) north of Rio de Janeiro, said the dam ruptured at 4.20pm in an area roughly 20km from the city centre.A statement from the city hall of Mariana, a city of about 40,000 people 300km (185 miles) north of Rio de Janeiro, said the dam ruptured at 4.20pm in an area roughly 20km from the city centre.
The disaster comes as both Vale and BHP are battling a collapse in iron ore prices and a wider slump in the industry.The disaster comes as both Vale and BHP are battling a collapse in iron ore prices and a wider slump in the industry.
The Germano mine is a 50-50 joint venture between the world’s largest iron miner and the largest mining company.The Germano mine is a 50-50 joint venture between the world’s largest iron miner and the largest mining company.
Iron ore is transported down a slurry pipe to Espirito Santo in south-eastern Brazil, where it is turned into pellets. Samarco produces around 30 million tonnes per year, according to its website.Iron ore is transported down a slurry pipe to Espirito Santo in south-eastern Brazil, where it is turned into pellets. Samarco produces around 30 million tonnes per year, according to its website.
Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.