The parts of Brazil are underwater after weeks of heavy rainfall and complicating matters further two dams have developed some cracks and resulted in swamping in the already inundated areas in several parts of Brazil.

Several parts of Brazil are under water after weeks of heavy rainfall

Thousands of Brazilians braced Monday for the possible collapse of another tailings dam owned by mining giant Vale that threatens to spew millions of tons of toxic sludge over towns, rivers and forest.

The latest emergency comes <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/deadly-brazil-dam-burst-likely-had-same-cause-as-previous-one-official-194495">four months after 242 people were killed</a> when a dam burst at another Vale-owned mine.

Vale and emergency services have warned that a section of the defunct Gongo Soco mine in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais is at risk of disintegrating, which could rupture the Sul Superior dam 1.5 kilometres (nearly one mile) away.

More than 400 people living around the dam, which holds nearly seven million cubic meters (247 million cubic feet) of mining waste, were evacuated in early February after monitoring systems detected abnormal movement in the northern slope of the mine, which was closed in 2016.&nbsp;

The slope usually shifts about 10 centimetres (four inches) a year, but that has accelerated in recent months. In the past few days, it has topped 20cm a day, local media reported Monday.

Around 6,000 inhabitants in Barao de Cocais municipality who are living in the so-called secondary safety zone have been on high alert, performing evacuation drills in preparation for the potential disaster.&nbsp;

They will have less than an hour and a half to reach safety.

Vale has "teams in a state of permanent readiness" but it said there was "no technical data that can confirm whether the eventual slippage will trigger a breach of the dam," according to its latest update on Friday.

"All preventive measures" have been taken, it added.

Apart from monitoring the dam 24-hours a day,<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/deadly-brazil-dam-collapse-raises-fears-of-environmental-woes-194307"> Vale</a> has been building a containment wall six kilometres downstream and installing barriers to slow a potential flood in the hope of containing displaced material.

Another upstream tailings dam owned by Vale collapsed January 25, killing 242 people in one of Brazil's worst industrial disasters.

Emergency workers are still searching for 28 people listed as missing but almost certainly dead, according to the latest figures released Saturday.

That dam collapse was the second such disaster involving Vale in three years and forced the company to suspend operations at several mines.&nbsp;

Brazil has since banned the construction of new upstream dams, which are cheaper but less stable than other types of tailings dams, and ordered the decommissioning of existing ones.

Thousands of Brazilians braced Monday for the possible collapse of another tailings dam owned by mining giant Vale that threatens to spew millions of tons of toxic sludge over towns, rivers and forest.

Thousands of Brazilians braced Monday for the possible collapse of another tailings dam owned by mining giant Vale that threatens to spew millions of tons of toxic sludge over towns, rivers and forest. The latest emergency comes four months after 242 people were killed when a dam burst at another Vale-owned mine. Vale and emergency services have warned that a section of the defunct Gongo Soco mine in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais is at risk of disintegrating, which could rupture the Sul Superior dam 1.5 kilometres (nearly one mile) away. More than 400 people living around the dam, which holds nearly seven million cubic meters (247 million cubic feet) of mining waste, were evacuated in early February after monitoring systems detected abnormal movement in the northern slope of the mine, which was closed in 2016. The slope usually shifts about 10 centimetres (four inches) a year, but that has accelerated in recent months. In the past few days, it has topped 20cm a day, local media reported Monday. Around 6,000 inhabitants in Barao de Cocais municipality who are living in the so-called secondary safety zone have been on high alert, performing evacuation drills in preparation for the potential disaster. They will have less than an hour and a half to reach safety. Vale has "teams in a state of permanent readiness" but it said there was "no technical data that can confirm whether the eventual slippage will trigger a breach of the dam," according to its latest update on Friday. "All preventive measures" have been taken, it added. Apart from monitoring the dam 24-hours a day, Vale has been building a containment wall six kilometres downstream and installing barriers to slow a potential flood in the hope of containing displaced material. Another upstream tailings dam owned by Vale collapsed January 25, killing 242 people in one of Brazil's worst industrial disasters. Emergency workers are still searching for 28 people listed as missing but almost certainly dead, according to the latest figures released Saturday. That dam collapse was the second such disaster involving Vale in three years and forced the company to suspend operations at several mines. Brazil has since banned the construction of new upstream dams, which are cheaper but less stable than other types of tailings dams, and ordered the decommissioning of existing ones.

Hundreds of people evacuated as Brazil braces for another tailings dam collapse

Brazilian iron ore miner Vale SA Chief Executive Fabio Schvartsman and several other senior executives resigned on Saturday in what the company described as a temporary move, after one of its mining dams burst in January, killing hundreds.

Vale said Schvartsman offered his resignation, which the board "immediately accepted" after state and federal prosecutors recommended their removal late on Friday.

The move comes slightly over a month after a tailings dam broke at Vale's Corrego do Feijao mine in the interior Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, likely killing over 300 people and releasing massive amounts of toxic sludge.

It was the second deadly burst at a Vale-linked tailings dam in Minas Gerais in four years.

The resignations came after documents emerged in recent weeks showing that Vale knew it had an elevated risk of rupture and that inspectors felt they were under pressure to certify the structure as safe.

Earlier this week, newspaper Folha de S Paulo reported that a Vale manager had told executives the integrity of the structure had worsened, though the company vigorously denied the report.

The company said it had appointed Eduardo Bartolomeo, executive director of base metals, as the new head of the firm.

Also resigning were Vale's head of ferrous minerals and coal, Peter Poppinga, planning director Lucio Flavio Gallon Cavalli and Silmar Magalhaes Silva, the head of a geographic division at Vale.

Vale said its board met on Friday night and Saturday morning following the prosecutors' recommendation.

In a letter sent to the board by Schvartsman and published by newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, in which he asked to be removed from the position of CEO on a "temporary" basis, the executive vigorously defended his conduct.

"I am absolutely convinced that the way I have acted personally, as well as the rest of our executive board ... has been absolutely appropriate, correct, and, mainly, loyal to our non-negotiable values of upholding operational security as a company," the letter read, according to Folha.

Vale did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Bartolomeo, the incoming chief executive, was previously the executive director of marketing and of fertilizer and coal operations, according to Vale's website. He has also served on Vale's board of directors as well as its compliance and risk committee and finance committee.

According to his LinkedIn profile, he worked as executive director at Vale for 8 years until 2012, after which he worked as CEO of Brazil Hospitality Group then as CEO of Nova Transportadora do Sudeste, a gas pipeline company. He rejoined Vale in January of 2018.

He holds MBAs from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Katholieke Universiteit in Belgium, the website says.

The executives' departure was made public on Saturday evening during Brazil's Carnival holiday weekend. The country's main stock exchange will be closed on Monday and Tuesday although Vale's ADRs will reopen in New York on Monday.

Brazilian iron ore miner Vale SA Chief Executive Fabio Schvartsman and several other senior executives resigned on Saturday in what the company described as a temporary move, after one of its mining dams burst in January, killing hundreds.

Brazilian iron ore miner Vale SA Chief Executive Fabio Schvartsman and several other senior executives resigned on Saturday in what the company described as a temporary move, after one of its mining dams burst in January, killing hundreds. Vale said Schvartsman offered his resignation, which the board "immediately accepted" after state and federal prosecutors recommended their removal late on Friday. The move comes slightly over a month after a tailings dam broke at Vale's Corrego do Feijao mine in the interior Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, likely killing over 300 people and releasing massive amounts of toxic sludge. It was the second deadly burst at a Vale-linked tailings dam in Minas Gerais in four years. The resignations came after documents emerged in recent weeks showing that Vale knew it had an elevated risk of rupture and that inspectors felt they were under pressure to certify the structure as safe. Earlier this week, newspaper Folha de S Paulo reported that a Vale manager had told executives the integrity of the structure had worsened, though the company vigorously denied the report. The company said it had appointed Eduardo Bartolomeo, executive director of base metals, as the new head of the firm. Also resigning were Vale's head of ferrous minerals and coal, Peter Poppinga, planning director Lucio Flavio Gallon Cavalli and Silmar Magalhaes Silva, the head of a geographic division at Vale. Vale said its board met on Friday night and Saturday morning following the prosecutors' recommendation. In a letter sent to the board by Schvartsman and published by newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, in which he asked to be removed from the position of CEO on a "temporary" basis, the executive vigorously defended his conduct. "I am absolutely convinced that the way I have acted personally, as well as the rest of our executive board ... has been absolutely appropriate, correct, and, mainly, loyal to our non-negotiable values of upholding operational security as a company," the letter read, according to Folha. Vale did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Bartolomeo, the incoming chief executive, was previously the executive director of marketing and of fertilizer and coal operations, according to Vale's website. He has also served on Vale's board of directors as well as its compliance and risk committee and finance committee. According to his LinkedIn profile, he worked as executive director at Vale for 8 years until 2012, after which he worked as CEO of Brazil Hospitality Group then as CEO of Nova Transportadora do Sudeste, a gas pipeline company. He rejoined Vale in January of 2018. He holds MBAs from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Katholieke Universiteit in Belgium, the website says. The executives' departure was made public on Saturday evening during Brazil's Carnival holiday weekend. The country's main stock exchange will be closed on Monday and Tuesday although Vale's ADRs will reopen in New York on Monday.

Vale's CEO, other executives, to step down after Brazil dam burst

Brazilian authorities arrested eight employees of mining giant Vale on Friday over a dam collapse at one of its mines three weeks ago that killed at least 166 people and left 147 missing, presumed dead.

Those apprehended -- two executives, two managers and four members of teams that checked the stability of the collapsed dam -- were being held to determine responsibility in relation to "hundreds of crimes of aggravated homicide," the prosecutor's office in the affected southeast state of Minas Gerais said in a statement.

It said they would be held in custody for 30 days. Police with warrants were also carrying out searches for evidence, including in Vale's headquarters in Rio de Janeiro.

Information leading to the arrests and warrants came from statements to police by two engineers from a German firm, TUEV SUED, contracted by Vale to inspect and certify the dam.

The engineers were arrested four days after the dam's collapse along with three Vale employees for questioning and were released a week later.

Four other TUEV SUED employees in Brazil were being sought by police.

The January 25 dam collapse is Brazil's worst industrial disaster. The reservoir, holding millions of tons of tailings -- mineral-laced mining waste -- broke apart and washed over the Vale iron ore mine near the town of Brumadinho.

Most of those buried under its thick mud were mine workers, though some nearby residents were also engulfed.

Emergency crews continue to pick through the mud to look for bodies, but officials have said it was likely not all remains would be recovered.

Vale, the world's biggest iron ore miner and one of Brazil's biggest companies, lost a quarter of its market value after the disaster.

It insists that it observed all safety regulations regarding the dam. It dismisses reports that potential problems were detected before the disaster, saying they were addressed.

Its CEO, Fabio Schvartsman, said Thursday that Vale should not be punished over the disaster at its mine.

The company, he said, "is a Brazilian crown jewel that cannot be condemned for an accident that occurred in its dam, no matter how big the tragedy," he told a Congressional committee.

The disaster was the second involving Vale in three years in the same region of Brazil, after a 2015 collapse of another tailings dam at a jointly owned mine that caused what is considered the country's worst-ever environmental catastrophe.

Brazilian authorities arrested eight employees of mining giant Vale on Friday over a dam collapse at one of its mines three weeks ago that killed at least 166 people and left 147 missing, presumed dead.

Brazilian authorities arrested eight employees of mining giant Vale on Friday over a dam collapse at one of its mines three weeks ago that killed at least 166 people and left 147 missing, presumed dead. Those apprehended -- two executives, two managers and four members of teams that checked the stability of the collapsed dam -- were being held to determine responsibility in relation to "hundreds of crimes of aggravated homicide," the prosecutor's office in the affected southeast state of Minas Gerais said in a statement. It said they would be held in custody for 30 days. Police with warrants were also carrying out searches for evidence, including in Vale's headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. Information leading to the arrests and warrants came from statements to police by two engineers from a German firm, TUEV SUED, contracted by Vale to inspect and certify the dam. The engineers were arrested four days after the dam's collapse along with three Vale employees for questioning and were released a week later. Four other TUEV SUED employees in Brazil were being sought by police. The January 25 dam collapse is Brazil's worst industrial disaster. The reservoir, holding millions of tons of tailings -- mineral-laced mining waste -- broke apart and washed over the Vale iron ore mine near the town of Brumadinho. Most of those buried under its thick mud were mine workers, though some nearby residents were also engulfed. Emergency crews continue to pick through the mud to look for bodies, but officials have said it was likely not all remains would be recovered. Vale, the world's biggest iron ore miner and one of Brazil's biggest companies, lost a quarter of its market value after the disaster. It insists that it observed all safety regulations regarding the dam. It dismisses reports that potential problems were detected before the disaster, saying they were addressed. Its CEO, Fabio Schvartsman, said Thursday that Vale should not be punished over the disaster at its mine. The company, he said, "is a Brazilian crown jewel that cannot be condemned for an accident that occurred in its dam, no matter how big the tragedy," he told a Congressional committee. The disaster was the second involving Vale in three years in the same region of Brazil, after a 2015 collapse of another tailings dam at a jointly owned mine that caused what is considered the country's worst-ever environmental catastrophe.

Brazil arrests eight Vale employees over mining dam disaster

The toll from a d<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/toll-in-brazil-dam-disaster-rises-to-121-dead-226-missing-194678">am collapse at a mine in southeast Brazil </a>has risen to 134 deaths after more than a week of searches, with 199 missing, authorities said Monday.

The count showed the gradual recovery operation of bodies more than a week after the January 25 disaster at the dam, owned by Brazilian mining giant Vale, near the town of Brumadinho.

Those listed as missing are presumed dead, but not yet located under the layers of muddy mining waste released when the tailings dam broke apart. Almost all the victims were workers at the mine.

A fire services spokesman said it was possible that not all the bodies would be located and recovered.

"After a while, because of the decomposition of the bodies, it becomes impossible to recover the remains. But until that moment comes, even if we have to stay four, five or six months, the fire offices will work without stopping," he said.

The disaster occurred three years after a similar dam collapse tragedy at another mine in the same region which was part-owned by Vale.

That 2015 incident, close to the town of Mariana, had a lower death toll of 19 but was considered Brazil's worst environmental disaster because the mining waste released ravaged whole ecosystems along hundreds of miles (kilometres) of waterways.

President Jair Bolsonaro, in a statement read to Congress as he recovered in hospital from abdominal surgery, said excessive regulation of Brazil's mining industry was partly to blame for the Brumadinho dam collapse.

"The government has dozens of overlapping monitoring structures which stop people from producing but didn't prevent the Brumadinho tragedy," he said.

"It's not with a bigger government that we are going to solve these problems, but with the more efficient government," he said.

The toll from a dam collapse at a mine in southeast Brazil has risen to 134 deaths after more than a week of searches, with 199 missing, authorities said Monday.

The toll from a dam collapse at a mine in southeast Brazil has risen to 134 deaths after more than a week of searches, with 199 missing, authorities said Monday. The count showed the gradual recovery operation of bodies more than a week after the January 25 disaster at the dam, owned by Brazilian mining giant Vale, near the town of Brumadinho. Those listed as missing are presumed dead, but not yet located under the layers of muddy mining waste released when the tailings dam broke apart. Almost all the victims were workers at the mine. A fire services spokesman said it was possible that not all the bodies would be located and recovered. "After a while, because of the decomposition of the bodies, it becomes impossible to recover the remains. But until that moment comes, even if we have to stay four, five or six months, the fire offices will work without stopping," he said. The disaster occurred three years after a similar dam collapse tragedy at another mine in the same region which was part-owned by Vale. That 2015 incident, close to the town of Mariana, had a lower death toll of 19 but was considered Brazil's worst environmental disaster because the mining waste released ravaged whole ecosystems along hundreds of miles (kilometres) of waterways. President Jair Bolsonaro, in a statement read to Congress as he recovered in hospital from abdominal surgery, said excessive regulation of Brazil's mining industry was partly to blame for the Brumadinho dam collapse. "The government has dozens of overlapping monitoring structures which stop people from producing but didn't prevent the Brumadinho tragedy," he said. "It's not with a bigger government that we are going to solve these problems, but with the more efficient government," he said.

Death toll in Brazil dam disaster rises to 134, 199 still missing

The toll from a dam collapse last week at a mine in southeast Brazil has risen to 121 dead and 226 missing, according to officials Saturday.

The emergency service for the state of Minas Gerais, where the January 25 disaster occurred near the town of Brumadinho, said the search was ongoing for bodies.

All those listed as missing are presumed dead, with no survivors being found over the past week.&nbsp;

Virtually all the dead and missing were workers at the iron ore mine, buried under an avalanche of sludgy mining waste when the dam collapsed above the facility's cafeteria and main administrative area.

It was the second dam disaster in three years at a mine owned by Brazilian mining giant Vale.

Authorities have frozen over $3 billion in company assets in anticipation it will pay damages, compensation and fines.

The toll from a dam collapse last week at a mine in southeast Brazil has risen to 121 dead and 226 missing, according to officials Saturday. The emergency service for the state of Minas Gerais, where the January 25 disaster occurred near the town of Brumadinho, said the search was ongoing for bodies.

The toll from a dam collapse last week at a mine in southeast Brazil has risen to 121 dead and 226 missing, according to officials Saturday. The emergency service for the state of Minas Gerais, where the January 25 disaster occurred near the town of Brumadinho, said the search was ongoing for bodies. All those listed as missing are presumed dead, with no survivors being found over the past week. Virtually all the dead and missing were workers at the iron ore mine, buried under an avalanche of sludgy mining waste when the dam collapsed above the facility's cafeteria and main administrative area. It was the second dam disaster in three years at a mine owned by Brazilian mining giant Vale. Authorities have frozen over $3 billion in company assets in anticipation it will pay damages, compensation and fines.

Death toll in Brazil dam disaster rises to 121 dead, 226 still missing

The collapse of a Brazilian dam controlled by miner Vale a week ago likely happened because parts of the sand and dried-mud structure dissolved into the liquid, a state regulator said in an interview, similar to what caused another deadly mining disaster less than four years ago.

With 115 people confirmed dead and another 248 missing, according to information from the rescue team on Friday evening, the tailings dam collapse in the town of Brumadinho could be Brazil's deadliest mine disaster.

The burst tailings dam at the Corrego do Feijao mine last Friday has ignited intense public anger against Vale, which was co-owner of Samarco, the previous dam that collapsed.

Around 2,000 people gathered in Belo Horizonte, capital of the mining-intensive state of Minas Gerais which was home to both disasters, to protest against Vale, with some saying its top executives should be jailed.

"I lost three of my students," said Aparecida Moreira, a teacher at a local law school. "They are dead, and we don't know where their bodies are."

There were also demands for a congressional investigation.

An internal study showed the miner knew as recently as last year that some of the areas swamped with toxic mud were at risk if the dam burst, according to a report by Folha de S.Paulo newspaper. Vale described the document as a routine disaster preparation plan required by regulators.

The disaster poses a headache for the new government of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, whose new business-friendly administration must juggle public anger over the tragedy and its own desire to ease mining and environmental regulations to kick-start growth.

Hildebrando Neto, Minas Gerais' deputy minister for environmental regulations, told Reuters late on Thursday that all evidence suggests that the burst was caused by liquefaction, whereby a solid material such as sand loses strength and stiffness and behaves more like a liquid.

Dams holding mining waste, known as tailings, sometimes collapse for this reason.

Major Brazilian TV outlets obtained dramatic security camera video showing the outer wall of the dam collapsing and an avalanche of mud crushing trees, houses and cars in its path. Close-ups replayed throughout the day showed cars and people scrambling unsuccessfully to escape the dark red torrent.

Toxic mud

Neto said liquefaction caused the 2015 collapse of the Samarco dam, which led to the deaths of 19 people.

The internal study reported by the Folha newspaper was dated April 18, 2018, and outlined the likely impact of a collapse at the dam. It found that the mine restaurant, where many Vale workers were likely to have died, would be hit by toxic mud.

The study envisaged that sirens would alert workers if the dam burst. The company has said the mud flow destroyed the sirens before they could sound the alarm.

Vale said in a statement that the plan was "built on the basis of technical studies of hypothetical scenarios in the event of a breach" although it did not directly reference Folha's story.

Officials with the Mines and Energy Ministry and the National Mining Agency (ANM) told reporters on Friday that the cause of the rupture was still unclear.

"If we had known (what the problem was), maybe this tragedy would have never happened," the ministry’s mining secretary, Alexandre Vidigal, said. "We are in the investigation phase and we cannot say whether the (inspection) model was adequate or not."

The collapse of a Brazilian dam controlled by miner Vale a week ago likely happened because parts of the sand and dried-mud structure dissolved into the liquid, a state regulator said in an interview, similar to what caused another deadly mining disaster less than four years ago.

The collapse of a Brazilian dam controlled by miner Vale a week ago likely happened because parts of the sand and dried-mud structure dissolved into the liquid, a state regulator said in an interview, similar to what caused another deadly mining disaster less than four years ago. With 115 people confirmed dead and another 248 missing, according to information from the rescue team on Friday evening, the tailings dam collapse in the town of Brumadinho could be Brazil's deadliest mine disaster. The burst tailings dam at the Corrego do Feijao mine last Friday has ignited intense public anger against Vale, which was co-owner of Samarco, the previous dam that collapsed. Around 2,000 people gathered in Belo Horizonte, capital of the mining-intensive state of Minas Gerais which was home to both disasters, to protest against Vale, with some saying its top executives should be jailed. "I lost three of my students," said Aparecida Moreira, a teacher at a local law school. "They are dead, and we don't know where their bodies are." There were also demands for a congressional investigation. An internal study showed the miner knew as recently as last year that some of the areas swamped with toxic mud were at risk if the dam burst, according to a report by Folha de S.Paulo newspaper. Vale described the document as a routine disaster preparation plan required by regulators. The disaster poses a headache for the new government of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, whose new business-friendly administration must juggle public anger over the tragedy and its own desire to ease mining and environmental regulations to kick-start growth. Hildebrando Neto, Minas Gerais' deputy minister for environmental regulations, told Reuters late on Thursday that all evidence suggests that the burst was caused by liquefaction, whereby a solid material such as sand loses strength and stiffness and behaves more like a liquid. Dams holding mining waste, known as tailings, sometimes collapse for this reason. Major Brazilian TV outlets obtained dramatic security camera video showing the outer wall of the dam collapsing and an avalanche of mud crushing trees, houses and cars in its path. Close-ups replayed throughout the day showed cars and people scrambling unsuccessfully to escape the dark red torrent. Toxic mud Neto said liquefaction caused the 2015 collapse of the Samarco dam, which led to the deaths of 19 people. The internal study reported by the Folha newspaper was dated April 18, 2018, and outlined the likely impact of a collapse at the dam. It found that the mine restaurant, where many Vale workers were likely to have died, would be hit by toxic mud. The study envisaged that sirens would alert workers if the dam burst. The company has said the mud flow destroyed the sirens before they could sound the alarm. Vale said in a statement that the plan was "built on the basis of technical studies of hypothetical scenarios in the event of a breach" although it did not directly reference Folha's story. Officials with the Mines and Energy Ministry and the National Mining Agency (ANM) told reporters on Friday that the cause of the rupture was still unclear. "If we had known (what the problem was), maybe this tragedy would have never happened," the ministry’s mining secretary, Alexandre Vidigal, said. "We are in the investigation phase and we cannot say whether the (inspection) model was adequate or not."

Deadly Brazil dam burst likely had same cause as previous one: Official

The death toll from the collapse of a tailings dam in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/deadly-brazil-dam-collapse-raises-fears-of-environmental-woes-194307">Brazil's southeastern state of Minas</a> Gerais has risen to 110, with 238 still listed as missing, the state civil defense authorities said on Thursday.

According to the civil defense authorities out of the 110 victims, 71 have been identified.

The dam collapsed on January 25th in Brumadinho Municipality of Minas Gerais and<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/new-dam-disaster-puts-vale-ceo-deals-and-dividends-under-scrutiny-193326"> caused a mudslide, which destroyed offices </a>of Vale company that operates a mine and a residential area in the vicinity. Now the affected area remains a dangerous zone, with normal life of local residents hard to be resumed within a short period of time.

At a service station where donated life supplies are piled, workers are on duty around the clock to make sure the affected residents can get the life necessities they need.

Luciano, as a resident representative of the mining area, are among the volunteers to help affected people at the station, from which his six-member family also fetches some daily necessities.

"When the dam collapsed, I happened to be on the balcony of my home. Two small explosions had occurred before. Two or three minutes later, the dam collapsed with large quantities of mud from the mining area surging out of the dam. I'd never seen such a situation, so I led my family members to a higher place," Luciano said in an interview with China Central Television.

Luciano said though all the family members are safe now, but the dangers are still near at hand.

"The whole area is dangerous. The dangerous section of the road as assessed by the Vale company is right here. They said here is the edge of the dangerous area and that there's no danger upward," said Luciano, pointing to the road.

Luciano said the Vale, in fact, has an alarm system, but it didn’t ring at that time, which caused so many people to be buried.

According to Fabio Schvartsman, CEO of Vale, the dam collapsed so suddenly that the buzzer was swallowed before making a sound. However, local residents still doubt his explanation.

As search and rescue goes on, disease prevention is also an emergency in the affected area.

"We are worried about what will happen next, which may bring about some diseases, such as field fever, dengue, acute intestinal infectious diseases and some other diseases caused by chemicals in the mining area. We will monitor the spot and take measures to handle the diseases," said Marcelo Ribeiro, assistant director of the Minas Gerais State Hospital Foundation (FHEMIG).

The death toll from the collapse of a tailings dam in Brazil's southeastern state of Minas Gerais has risen to 110, with 238 still listed as missing, the state civil defense authorities said on Thursday.

The death toll from the collapse of a tailings dam in Brazil's southeastern state of Minas Gerais has risen to 110, with 238 still listed as missing, the state civil defense authorities said on Thursday. According to the civil defense authorities out of the 110 victims, 71 have been identified. The dam collapsed on January 25th in Brumadinho Municipality of Minas Gerais and caused a mudslide, which destroyed offices of Vale company that operates a mine and a residential area in the vicinity. Now the affected area remains a dangerous zone, with normal life of local residents hard to be resumed within a short period of time. At a service station where donated life supplies are piled, workers are on duty around the clock to make sure the affected residents can get the life necessities they need. Luciano, as a resident representative of the mining area, are among the volunteers to help affected people at the station, from which his six-member family also fetches some daily necessities. "When the dam collapsed, I happened to be on the balcony of my home. Two small explosions had occurred before. Two or three minutes later, the dam collapsed with large quantities of mud from the mining area surging out of the dam. I'd never seen such a situation, so I led my family members to a higher place," Luciano said in an interview with China Central Television. Luciano said though all the family members are safe now, but the dangers are still near at hand. "The whole area is dangerous. The dangerous section of the road as assessed by the Vale company is right here. They said here is the edge of the dangerous area and that there's no danger upward," said Luciano, pointing to the road. Luciano said the Vale, in fact, has an alarm system, but it didn’t ring at that time, which caused so many people to be buried. According to Fabio Schvartsman, CEO of Vale, the dam collapsed so suddenly that the buzzer was swallowed before making a sound. However, local residents still doubt his explanation. As search and rescue goes on, disease prevention is also an emergency in the affected area. "We are worried about what will happen next, which may bring about some diseases, such as field fever, dengue, acute intestinal infectious diseases and some other diseases caused by chemicals in the mining area. We will monitor the spot and take measures to handle the diseases," said Marcelo Ribeiro, assistant director of the Minas Gerais State Hospital Foundation (FHEMIG).

Brazil dam collapse: Death toll rises to 110; 238 still missing

The death toll from the collapse of a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pictures-local-hero-saves-girl-from-mud-of-brazils-deadly-dam-collapse-194149">tailings dam in Brumadinho</a>, Brazil's southeastern state of Minas Gerais, reached 99 on Wednesday, with 259 people still missing.

The dam ruptured on Friday&nbsp;sent&nbsp;a wave of iron ore waste and mud down the hill, destroying everything in its path, including residential areas, at least two small hotels and a large administrative area of mining giant Vale, owner of the mining complex where the dam was located.

The site of the collapsed dam has seen several firefighters searching for bodies, even though the possibility of finding people alive is widely regarded as very remote.

"Our group members and I searched out two bodies today. The most difficult part is to locate these bodies, as they are covered with mud of same colour; it's so hard to distinguish. Identifying human remains is quite difficult and is an uneasy job. We have to be highly concentrated and be alerted so as to find the bodies. We will exert all of our efforts to give the society an explanation," said Nunes, a firefighter of the Maranhao State, north to the Minas Gerais.

Apart from firefighters, medical teams and chemical experts are also present on the site.

The tailings dam, which belongs to Vale, has a large amount of deposits of wastes and chemical substances. After the dam collapsed, it has added up the possibility of chemical pollution and poisoning.

So far, the muddy waste has travelled almost 100 kilometres down the Paraopeba river. Vale started on Wednesday to install equipment in the river, trying to contain the material and prevent it from reaching the Sao Francisco River.

The Vale has announced that it will clear away 10 other tailings dams just like the one that collapsed. The company has also promised to pay&nbsp; $27,000&nbsp;as compensation to each victim's family.

The death toll from the collapse of a tailings dam in Brumadinho, Brazil's southeastern state of Minas Gerais, reached 99 on Wednesday, with 259 people still missing.

The death toll from the collapse of a tailings dam in Brumadinho, Brazil's southeastern state of Minas Gerais, reached 99 on Wednesday, with 259 people still missing. The dam ruptured on Friday sent a wave of iron ore waste and mud down the hill, destroying everything in its path, including residential areas, at least two small hotels and a large administrative area of mining giant Vale, owner of the mining complex where the dam was located. The site of the collapsed dam has seen several firefighters searching for bodies, even though the possibility of finding people alive is widely regarded as very remote. "Our group members and I searched out two bodies today. The most difficult part is to locate these bodies, as they are covered with mud of same colour; it's so hard to distinguish. Identifying human remains is quite difficult and is an uneasy job. We have to be highly concentrated and be alerted so as to find the bodies. We will exert all of our efforts to give the society an explanation," said Nunes, a firefighter of the Maranhao State, north to the Minas Gerais. Apart from firefighters, medical teams and chemical experts are also present on the site. The tailings dam, which belongs to Vale, has a large amount of deposits of wastes and chemical substances. After the dam collapsed, it has added up the possibility of chemical pollution and poisoning. So far, the muddy waste has travelled almost 100 kilometres down the Paraopeba river. Vale started on Wednesday to install equipment in the river, trying to contain the material and prevent it from reaching the Sao Francisco River. The Vale has announced that it will clear away 10 other tailings dams just like the one that collapsed. The company has also promised to pay $27,000 as compensation to each victim's family.

Brazil dam collapse: Death toll reaches 99; 259 people still missing

Three employees of Brazilian miner Vale SA and two other engineers working on behalf of the company were arrested on Tuesday, Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo state prosecutors said.

In a statement on Twitter, Vale said it was cooperating with investigators, who are probing a mining disaster that is likely to leave a death toll of more than 300 people. The<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/brazilian-despair-turns-to-anger-as-toll-from-vale-dam-disaster-hits-60-193517"> tragedy has enraged many in Brazil</a> and raised fresh questions about Vale's commitment to safety after a similar disaster at mine it joint-owned just over three years ago.

Two of Vale's senior managers at the Corrego do Feijao mine - where a tailings dam burst last Friday, drowning the nearby town of Brumadinho in mining waste - were among those arrested, according to the local judge's decision, seen by Reuters. The job of the third Vale employee was not immediately clear.

Two other engineers were arrested in Sao Paulo, state prosecutors there said.

Minas Gerais investigators issued a total of five arrest warrants and seven search warrants, on suspicion of murder, falsification of documents and environmental crimes, the judge's decision showed.

Three employees of Brazilian miner Vale SA and two other engineers working on behalf of the company were arrested on Tuesday, Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo state prosecutors said.

Three employees of Brazilian miner Vale SA and two other engineers working on behalf of the company were arrested on Tuesday, Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo state prosecutors said. In a statement on Twitter, Vale said it was cooperating with investigators, who are probing a mining disaster that is likely to leave a death toll of more than 300 people. The tragedy has enraged many in Brazil and raised fresh questions about Vale's commitment to safety after a similar disaster at mine it joint-owned just over three years ago. Two of Vale's senior managers at the Corrego do Feijao mine - where a tailings dam burst last Friday, drowning the nearby town of Brumadinho in mining waste - were among those arrested, according to the local judge's decision, seen by Reuters. The job of the third Vale employee was not immediately clear. Two other engineers were arrested in Sao Paulo, state prosecutors there said. Minas Gerais investigators issued a total of five arrest warrants and seven search warrants, on suspicion of murder, falsification of documents and environmental crimes, the judge's decision showed.

Five arrested, including three Vale staff after Brazil dam disaster

WION Fineprint, 28th January, 2019

Fineprint: 58 dead, over 300 missing as Brazil dam collapses

Firefighters on Sunday called for the evacuation of some 24,000 people from the Brazilian town hit by a deadly mudslide from a ruptured mining dam as rains added to concerns a second dam could collapse.

Sirens began blaring before dawn, triggered by dangerous water levels at a tailings dam still standing near an iron ore mine owned by Vale SA near Brumadinho in Minas Gerais state.

"We have a situation of imminent risk, but there hasn't been a rupture of this dam until now and we are monitoring it," said Pedro Aihara, a spokesman for the state fire department.

He said they believed the situation was dangerous, but he could not comment on the actual risk of another dam break. The second dam being monitored is about 50 meters (0.03 mile) from the burst dam and part of a large industrial complex.

The evacuation efforts diverted attention from the search for hundreds of people missing after Friday's burst dam unleashed a torrent of mud, burying the mining facilities and nearby homes.

"Our work is completely focused on the evacuation," Aihara said.

Roughly 250 people were still missing after the tailings dam accident, according to a list released by Vale, the second such disaster in less than four years. Most of the missing are presumed dead, officials said.

The confirmed death toll rose to 37 by Sunday morning, according to the fire department.

The disaster is now more deadly than a 2015 tailings dam collapse at an iron ore mine less than 100 km (60 miles) to the east, belonging to Samarco Mineracao SA, a Vale joint venture with BHP Group.

The Samarco dam break spilled five times the mining waste into a more remote region, killing 19 people, burying a small village and contaminating a major river in Brazil's worst environmental disaster on record.

In Brumadinho, families and friends mourning their lost loved ones were forced to evacuate on Sunday.

'Fed up'

Renato Maia, a 44-year-old salesman whose best friend's daughter remained missing, fled his home in panic early Sunday morning. At midday he and his wife waited on the outskirts of town for police to lift a blockade, angry at the situation.

"We're all fed up with Vale ... and this is really adding to the tension," he said. "It was a huge tragedy and now we don't know what might come next."

The Brazilian government has ordered Vale to halt operations at the Corrego do Feijao mining complex, the site of the Friday dam burst. Courts have frozen 6 billion reais ($1.6 billion) in Vale's asses to pay for the damage.

Vale Chief Executive Officer Fabio Schvartsman apologized without taking responsibility in a television interview on Saturday.

"Apologies to society, apologies to you, apologies to the whole world for what has happened," he said. "I don't know who is responsible, but you can be sure we'll do our part."

The cause of the dam burst remained unclear. Recent inspections by a German auditor TUV SUD and Vale did not indicate any problems with the dam, the companies said.

Federal prosecutor Jose Adercio Sampaio told Reuters on Saturday that state and federal authorities have failed to apply more stringent regulation to the hundreds of tailings dams around the country.

Schvartsman said all of Vale's tailings dams were checked after the 2015 disaster and periodic reviews are carried out.

Firefighters on Sunday called for the evacuation of some 24,000 people from the Brazilian town hit by a deadly mudslide from a ruptured mining dam as rains added to concerns a second dam could collapse.

Firefighters on Sunday called for the evacuation of some 24,000 people from the Brazilian town hit by a deadly mudslide from a ruptured mining dam as rains added to concerns a second dam could collapse. Sirens began blaring before dawn, triggered by dangerous water levels at a tailings dam still standing near an iron ore mine owned by Vale SA near Brumadinho in Minas Gerais state. "We have a situation of imminent risk, but there hasn't been a rupture of this dam until now and we are monitoring it," said Pedro Aihara, a spokesman for the state fire department. He said they believed the situation was dangerous, but he could not comment on the actual risk of another dam break. The second dam being monitored is about 50 meters (0.03 mile) from the burst dam and part of a large industrial complex. The evacuation efforts diverted attention from the search for hundreds of people missing after Friday's burst dam unleashed a torrent of mud, burying the mining facilities and nearby homes. "Our work is completely focused on the evacuation," Aihara said. Roughly 250 people were still missing after the tailings dam accident, according to a list released by Vale, the second such disaster in less than four years. Most of the missing are presumed dead, officials said. The confirmed death toll rose to 37 by Sunday morning, according to the fire department. The disaster is now more deadly than a 2015 tailings dam collapse at an iron ore mine less than 100 km (60 miles) to the east, belonging to Samarco Mineracao SA, a Vale joint venture with BHP Group. The Samarco dam break spilled five times the mining waste into a more remote region, killing 19 people, burying a small village and contaminating a major river in Brazil's worst environmental disaster on record. In Brumadinho, families and friends mourning their lost loved ones were forced to evacuate on Sunday. 'Fed up' Renato Maia, a 44-year-old salesman whose best friend's daughter remained missing, fled his home in panic early Sunday morning. At midday he and his wife waited on the outskirts of town for police to lift a blockade, angry at the situation. "We're all fed up with Vale ... and this is really adding to the tension," he said. "It was a huge tragedy and now we don't know what might come next." The Brazilian government has ordered Vale to halt operations at the Corrego do Feijao mining complex, the site of the Friday dam burst. Courts have frozen 6 billion reais ($1.6 billion) in Vale's asses to pay for the damage. Vale Chief Executive Officer Fabio Schvartsman apologized without taking responsibility in a television interview on Saturday. "Apologies to society, apologies to you, apologies to the whole world for what has happened," he said. "I don't know who is responsible, but you can be sure we'll do our part." The cause of the dam burst remained unclear. Recent inspections by a German auditor TUV SUD and Vale did not indicate any problems with the dam, the companies said. Federal prosecutor Jose Adercio Sampaio told Reuters on Saturday that state and federal authorities have failed to apply more stringent regulation to the hundreds of tailings dams around the country. Schvartsman said all of Vale's tailings dams were checked after the 2015 disaster and periodic reviews are carried out.

Nearly 24,000 ordered to evacuate after Brazil dam burst, 250 still missing

An alarm warning of an imminent mining dam rupture went up early Sunday in Brumadinho, the same Brazilian community where a dam collapsed killing 34 with hundreds more feared dead, firefighters and the mining company said.

An alarm warning of dangerously high water levels at a dam that is part of the Corrego do Feijao mining complex in southeastern Brazil went off at 5:30 am (0730 GMT), a statement by the mining company Vale said.

A dam at the same mining site burst Friday, spewing millions of tons of treacherous sludge and engulfing buildings, vehicles and roads.

Firefighters said they immediately began evacuating communities near the dam.

"Attention, general area evacuation!" blared a warning through loudspeakers in Brumadinho, population 39,000. "Find the highest point in the city," the warning said.

Vale's CEO Fabio Schvartsman and Minas Gerais Governor Romeu Zema earlier warned that the death toll from the Friday rupture could rise.

"From now, the odds are minimal (to find more people alive) and it is most likely we will recover only bodies," Zema told reporters late Friday.

In Rio, Schvartsman spoke of a "human tragedy."

Search and rescue operations, suspended overnight because of rain, resumed at 4 am (0600 GMT).

Dozens of helicopters were set to be deployed because the thick mud was treacherous for ground rescuers to venture into.

Among the more than 170 survivors rescued from the disaster, 23 were hospitalized with injuries.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro flew over the devastated zone on Saturday, later tweeting that it was "difficult to not be emotional before this scene."&nbsp;

All was being done to care for survivors and "determine the facts, to demand justice and prevent new tragedies," he added.

The military said it deployed 1,000 soldiers, including sniffer dogs, to the disaster zone.

Separately, an Israeli team of 130 soldiers equipped with cellular location equipment, drones and naval sonars is set to reach the area Sunday to help search for survivors and bodies, an Israeli military spokesman said. The team is expected to stay for one week.

The disaster was the first big emergency faced by Bolsonaro and his government since he took office in early January, and may be one of the deadliest disasters in Brazil's history.

Vale shares plunge

Vale has been shaken by the disaster, the second in three years it has suffered in the same state.

Workers at its mine had been at lunch in an administrative area Friday when they were suddenly swamped by millions of tons of muddy trailings -- a waste byproduct of the iron-ore mining operations.

The ruptured dam, 42 years old and 282 feet (86 meters) high, had been in the process of being decommissioned. Vale said it had recently passed structural safety tests.

After overflowing a second dam, the muddy mass barreled down toward Brumadinho but only glanced along the town before roaring through vegetation and farmland, smashing houses and swallowing tractors and roads in its path.

Vale shares plummeted on the New York stock exchange Friday, closing eight per cent lower.

Brazil's environmental protection agency hit Vale with an initial $66.5 million fine over the disaster.

Minas Gerais state authorities said they were about to levy another penalty. They have already obtained a court order blocking $270 million of Vale funds in bank accounts with a view to using the money for victim relief.

The mining company, one of the world's biggest, was involved in a 2015 mine collapse elsewhere in Minas Gerais that claimed 19 lives and is regarded as the country's worst-ever environmental disaster.

'Lessons not learned' 
 
Would-be rescue volunteers were urged to stay away because of the slippery, perilous mud. Media were pressed not to use drones to avoid collisions with rescue helicopters.

"There used to be people here, houses. I'm just floored by this tragedy," Rosilene Aganetti, a 57-year-old resident in one of the affected villages, told AFP, pointing to an expanse of mud.

"Several of my friends who were in the Vale cafeteria are missing," she said, holding back sobs.

Another woman, Suely de Olivera Costa, desperately trying to find her husband who worked at the mine, accused Vale of "destroying Brumadinho and nobody is doing anything -- what will be the next town?"

The Brazil office of environmental group Greenpeace said the dam break was "a sad consequence of the lessons not learned by the Brazilian government and the mining companies."

Such incidents "are not accidents but environmental crimes that must be investigated, punished and repaired," it added.

In 2008, a moving mass of mud and rocks from an illegal iron ore mine slammed into the Chinese town of Taoshi, in northern Shanxi province, killing 262 people.

A mine collapse at a gold mine in Merriespruit, South Africa caused 17 deaths in 1994.

An alarm warning of an imminent mining dam rupture went up early Sunday in Brumadinho, the same Brazilian community where a dam collapsed killing 34 with hundreds more feared dead, firefighters and the mining company said.

An alarm warning of an imminent mining dam rupture went up early Sunday in Brumadinho, the same Brazilian community where a dam collapsed killing 34 with hundreds more feared dead, firefighters and the mining company said. An alarm warning of dangerously high water levels at a dam that is part of the Corrego do Feijao mining complex in southeastern Brazil went off at 5:30 am (0730 GMT), a statement by the mining company Vale said. A dam at the same mining site burst Friday, spewing millions of tons of treacherous sludge and engulfing buildings, vehicles and roads. Firefighters said they immediately began evacuating communities near the dam. "Attention, general area evacuation!" blared a warning through loudspeakers in Brumadinho, population 39,000. "Find the highest point in the city," the warning said. Vale's CEO Fabio Schvartsman and Minas Gerais Governor Romeu Zema earlier warned that the death toll from the Friday rupture could rise. "From now, the odds are minimal (to find more people alive) and it is most likely we will recover only bodies," Zema told reporters late Friday. In Rio, Schvartsman spoke of a "human tragedy." Search and rescue operations, suspended overnight because of rain, resumed at 4 am (0600 GMT). Dozens of helicopters were set to be deployed because the thick mud was treacherous for ground rescuers to venture into. Among the more than 170 survivors rescued from the disaster, 23 were hospitalized with injuries. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro flew over the devastated zone on Saturday, later tweeting that it was "difficult to not be emotional before this scene." All was being done to care for survivors and "determine the facts, to demand justice and prevent new tragedies," he added. The military said it deployed 1,000 soldiers, including sniffer dogs, to the disaster zone. Separately, an Israeli team of 130 soldiers equipped with cellular location equipment, drones and naval sonars is set to reach the area Sunday to help search for survivors and bodies, an Israeli military spokesman said. The team is expected to stay for one week. The disaster was the first big emergency faced by Bolsonaro and his government since he took office in early January, and may be one of the deadliest disasters in Brazil's history. Vale shares plunge Vale has been shaken by the disaster, the second in three years it has suffered in the same state. Workers at its mine had been at lunch in an administrative area Friday when they were suddenly swamped by millions of tons of muddy trailings -- a waste byproduct of the iron-ore mining operations. The ruptured dam, 42 years old and 282 feet (86 meters) high, had been in the process of being decommissioned. Vale said it had recently passed structural safety tests. After overflowing a second dam, the muddy mass barreled down toward Brumadinho but only glanced along the town before roaring through vegetation and farmland, smashing houses and swallowing tractors and roads in its path. Vale shares plummeted on the New York stock exchange Friday, closing eight per cent lower. Brazil's environmental protection agency hit Vale with an initial $66.5 million fine over the disaster. Minas Gerais state authorities said they were about to levy another penalty. They have already obtained a court order blocking $270 million of Vale funds in bank accounts with a view to using the money for victim relief. The mining company, one of the world's biggest, was involved in a 2015 mine collapse elsewhere in Minas Gerais that claimed 19 lives and is regarded as the country's worst-ever environmental disaster. 'Lessons not learned' Would-be rescue volunteers were urged to stay away because of the slippery, perilous mud. Media were pressed not to use drones to avoid collisions with rescue helicopters. "There used to be people here, houses. I'm just floored by this tragedy," Rosilene Aganetti, a 57-year-old resident in one of the affected villages, told AFP, pointing to an expanse of mud. "Several of my friends who were in the Vale cafeteria are missing," she said, holding back sobs. Another woman, Suely de Olivera Costa, desperately trying to find her husband who worked at the mine, accused Vale of "destroying Brumadinho and nobody is doing anything -- what will be the next town?" The Brazil office of environmental group Greenpeace said the dam break was "a sad consequence of the lessons not learned by the Brazilian government and the mining companies." Such incidents "are not accidents but environmental crimes that must be investigated, punished and repaired," it added. In 2008, a moving mass of mud and rocks from an illegal iron ore mine slammed into the Chinese town of Taoshi, in northern Shanxi province, killing 262 people. A mine collapse at a gold mine in Merriespruit, South Africa caused 17 deaths in 1994.

Risk of imminent rupture at another mining dam as hundreds feared dead in earlier collapse

Brazilian mining giant Vale was hit with an initial $66.5 million fine Saturday over a dam collapse at one of its mines a day earlier that killed at least 10 people and left hundreds missing.&nbsp;

The amount, confirmed by multiple sources including a government official, was announced by the environment ministry, which did not immediately give an official figure.&nbsp;

It was levied by the government's environmental protection agency Ibama.

The penalty, for violations at the Vale iron ore mine in Brumaldinho, near the city of Belo Horizonte, will likely be followed by others as authorities evaluate the scale and gravity of the disaster, analysts told Brazilian media.

An official dealing with environmental issues in Minas Gerais state, where the dam collapse happened, told AFP the state was preparing another fine.

State authorities have already ordered $265 million in Vale's bank accounts be frozen with a view to making the funds available to victims of the disaster.&nbsp;

"The full force of the law" will be applied to those responsible, Minas Gerais governor Romeu Zema told reporters.

Shares in Vale, one of the biggest mining companies in the world, fell eight per cent in New York on Friday after the disaster occurred.

The company was involved in a similar dam collapse in 2015 at another mine it operated elsewhere in Minas Gerais in conjunction with Anglo-Australian company BHP.

In that case, their joint venture was slapped with a similar-sized fine that was later reduced, but which was in any case far eclipsed by an agreed $2.3-billion compensation payout -- and an ever bigger lawsuit that is still pending.

Brazilian mining giant Vale was hit with an initial $66.5 million fine Saturday over a dam collapse at one of its mines a day earlier that killed at least 10 people and left hundreds missing.

Brazilian mining giant Vale was hit with an initial $66.5 million fine Saturday over a dam collapse at one of its mines a day earlier that killed at least 10 people and left hundreds missing. The amount, confirmed by multiple sources including a government official, was announced by the environment ministry, which did not immediately give an official figure. It was levied by the government's environmental protection agency Ibama. The penalty, for violations at the Vale iron ore mine in Brumaldinho, near the city of Belo Horizonte, will likely be followed by others as authorities evaluate the scale and gravity of the disaster, analysts told Brazilian media. An official dealing with environmental issues in Minas Gerais state, where the dam collapse happened, told AFP the state was preparing another fine. State authorities have already ordered $265 million in Vale's bank accounts be frozen with a view to making the funds available to victims of the disaster. "The full force of the law" will be applied to those responsible, Minas Gerais governor Romeu Zema told reporters. Shares in Vale, one of the biggest mining companies in the world, fell eight per cent in New York on Friday after the disaster occurred. The company was involved in a similar dam collapse in 2015 at another mine it operated elsewhere in Minas Gerais in conjunction with Anglo-Australian company BHP. In that case, their joint venture was slapped with a similar-sized fine that was later reduced, but which was in any case far eclipsed by an agreed $2.3-billion compensation payout -- and an ever bigger lawsuit that is still pending.

Brazil's Vale hit with first fine over dam disaster

A German company that only months ago inspected a dam that collapsed in Brazil said on Saturday that it found nothing wrong with the structure during the checks.

The statement came as <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/hope-fades-for-300-missing-in-brazil-dam-disaster-192991">hopes were fading that rescuers would find more survivors from at least 300 missing </a>after the dam collapsed at a mine in southeast Brazil, with nine bodies so far recovered.

Tuev Sued, a Munich-based company specialising in certifications across the world, said it ran the inspection at the request of Vale, the Brazilian mining giant that owns the mine.

"In September 2018 Tuev Sued, commissioned by Vale, carried out an inspection of the dam which, as far as we know at the moment, found no defects," a spokesman told AFP.

Tuev Sued was not in a position to give more information while the investigation into the disaster was ongoing, he said, adding however that the company was fully cooperating with the investigation, including by providing "all documentation needed".

On Friday, a torrent of mud broke through the dam at the iron-ore mine close to the city of Belo Horizonte, in the state of Minas Gerias.

The massive, muddy flow from the collapse barrelled towards the nearby town of Brumadinho, population 39,000, but did not hit it directly.

Instead, it carved its way across roads, vegetation and farmland, taking down a bridge, and damaging or destroying homes.

A German company that only months ago inspected a dam that collapsed in Brazil said on Saturday that it found nothing wrong with the structure during the checks.

A German company that only months ago inspected a dam that collapsed in Brazil said on Saturday that it found nothing wrong with the structure during the checks. The statement came as hopes were fading that rescuers would find more survivors from at least 300 missing after the dam collapsed at a mine in southeast Brazil, with nine bodies so far recovered. Tuev Sued, a Munich-based company specialising in certifications across the world, said it ran the inspection at the request of Vale, the Brazilian mining giant that owns the mine. "In September 2018 Tuev Sued, commissioned by Vale, carried out an inspection of the dam which, as far as we know at the moment, found no defects," a spokesman told AFP. Tuev Sued was not in a position to give more information while the investigation into the disaster was ongoing, he said, adding however that the company was fully cooperating with the investigation, including by providing "all documentation needed". On Friday, a torrent of mud broke through the dam at the iron-ore mine close to the city of Belo Horizonte, in the state of Minas Gerias. The massive, muddy flow from the collapse barrelled towards the nearby town of Brumadinho, population 39,000, but did not hit it directly. Instead, it carved its way across roads, vegetation and farmland, taking down a bridge, and damaging or destroying homes.

'No defect' found in Brazil dam during German inspection month ago

Brazil dam collapse: 9 dead, 300 missing

A dam in southeast Brazil collapsed on Friday, unleashing a torrent of mud that killed "several" people living in an area close to the city of Belo Horizonte, an official with the local fire service told AFP.

Emergency services were still responding to the situation in and around the town of Brumadinho and did not yet have a precise toll, the official said.

"According to accounts that we are receiving, there were several deaths," he said.

Television images taken from the air showed a wide swath of devastation cut through vegetation and farmland in which several homes were seen, many damaged and some destroyed, with nothing but their tiled roofs left sitting on mud.

A rescue helicopter was seen hovering close to two survivors trapped up to their waist in mud, with its crew trying to pull them to safety.

An online video showed the moment the river of tons of mud cut across a road.

The dam belonged to Brazil's biggest mining company Vale, which confirmed its collapse and said "the total priority is to protect the lives of employees and inhabitants."

Brumadinho's municipality issued an alert on social media warning residents to move away from the Paraopeba river that the dam had been holding back.

The emergency recalled trauma from a 2015 dam break in a different part of the same state of Minas Gerais, at Mariana, in which 19 people died. That was considered the country's worst environmental disaster.

A dam in southeast Brazil collapsed on Friday, unleashing a torrent of mud that killed "several" people living in an area close to the city of Belo Horizonte, an official with the local fire service told AFP.

A dam in southeast Brazil collapsed on Friday, unleashing a torrent of mud that killed "several" people living in an area close to the city of Belo Horizonte, an official with the local fire service told AFP. Emergency services were still responding to the situation in and around the town of Brumadinho and did not yet have a precise toll, the official said. "According to accounts that we are receiving, there were several deaths," he said. Television images taken from the air showed a wide swath of devastation cut through vegetation and farmland in which several homes were seen, many damaged and some destroyed, with nothing but their tiled roofs left sitting on mud. A rescue helicopter was seen hovering close to two survivors trapped up to their waist in mud, with its crew trying to pull them to safety. An online video showed the moment the river of tons of mud cut across a road. The dam belonged to Brazil's biggest mining company Vale, which confirmed its collapse and said "the total priority is to protect the lives of employees and inhabitants." Brumadinho's municipality issued an alert on social media warning residents to move away from the Paraopeba river that the dam had been holding back. The emergency recalled trauma from a 2015 dam break in a different part of the same state of Minas Gerais, at Mariana, in which 19 people died. That was considered the country's worst environmental disaster.

Dam collapses in Brazil; several feared dead

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