Brazilian fisherman Jose Geraldo dos Santos uses a long pole to push his boat down the reddish-brown Paraopeba River, taking care not to splash himself with water he says is toxic.&nbsp;

Two months after an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-in-brazil-dam-disaster-rises-to-134-199-still-missing-195188">upstream tailings dam owned by mining giant Vale burst</a>, spewing millions of tons of minerals-laced sludge across the countryside, the 67-year-old says the river is too polluted for fishing or even for his animals to drink.&nbsp;

So contaminated is the tributary to the Sao Francisco River -- the second longest in Brazil -- says dos Santos, that he has been advised to not even "step in the mud."

"The researchers who came here said it will take eight to 10 years (for the river to recover)," says dos Santos, who lives about 45 kilometers (28 miles) from the village of Brumadinho in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais, which was engulfed by the waste unleashed by the January 25 dam rupture.&nbsp;

Emergency crews continue the slow process of picking through the mud looking for bodies -- at least 210 people were killed and 96 are missing.

In the meantime, Vale, government agencies and environmental groups are still assessing the impact of one of Brazil's worst industrial disasters on water quality downstream.&nbsp;

Some of the findings differ dramatically. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"It's so dense and thick that it cannot be called water," says Malu Ribeiro of SOS Mata Atlantica Foundation in a video released by the non-government organization to highlight the damage to the Paraopeba.

Before the dam collapsed the water was "crystal clear, full of fish," says Ribeiro.

"I've never seen that colour."

'Serious pollutants'

The disaster was the second involving Vale in three years in the mineral-rich region. The company has tried to contain the contamination by installing barriers to stop poisonous material reaching the Sao Francisco, hundreds of kilometres downstream.

So far, Vale says, its water quality analysis shows toxicity levels near the dam are "below the legal limits for mining tailings" and are "not harmful to health."

And its technicians predict that sludge from the dam would "not reach the Sao Francisco," Vale said in a statement Friday.&nbsp;

But SOS Mata Atlantica's latest data show high levels of toxic waste are already present in the key waterway and that the source is the dam at Brumadinho.

Various samples taken from the upper reaches earlier this month show concentrations of copper, iron, manganese and chromium that exceed the maximum limits allowed by Brazilian law.

"These are serious pollutants," says Romilda Roncatti of SOS Mata Atlantica.

But Brazilian authorities say the tailings have not spread more than one kilometre downstream and blame the increased turbidity on heavy rain.

"It's normal at this time of year to find high levels of some elements like iron or manganese -- these two elements always have higher concentrations during floods," says Eduardo Viglio of the Geological Survey of Brazil, which is tasked with collecting data on minerals and water resources in the country.

The government agency's own testing shows oxygen and acidity readings are also "normal," he adds.&nbsp;

That is cold comfort for dos Santos, who says increased pollution in the Paraopeba has deprived him of an income from fishing.

"The people who handle water treatment have said we can't use the water," he says.

"This place is no use to me."

Brazilian fisherman Jose Geraldo dos Santos uses a long pole to push his boat down the reddish-brown Paraopeba River, taking care not to splash himself with water he says is toxic.

Brazilian fisherman Jose Geraldo dos Santos uses a long pole to push his boat down the reddish-brown Paraopeba River, taking care not to splash himself with water he says is toxic. Two months after an upstream tailings dam owned by mining giant Vale burst, spewing millions of tons of minerals-laced sludge across the countryside, the 67-year-old says the river is too polluted for fishing or even for his animals to drink. So contaminated is the tributary to the Sao Francisco River -- the second longest in Brazil -- says dos Santos, that he has been advised to not even "step in the mud." "The researchers who came here said it will take eight to 10 years (for the river to recover)," says dos Santos, who lives about 45 kilometers (28 miles) from the village of Brumadinho in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais, which was engulfed by the waste unleashed by the January 25 dam rupture. Emergency crews continue the slow process of picking through the mud looking for bodies -- at least 210 people were killed and 96 are missing. In the meantime, Vale, government agencies and environmental groups are still assessing the impact of one of Brazil's worst industrial disasters on water quality downstream. Some of the findings differ dramatically. "It's so dense and thick that it cannot be called water," says Malu Ribeiro of SOS Mata Atlantica Foundation in a video released by the non-government organization to highlight the damage to the Paraopeba. Before the dam collapsed the water was "crystal clear, full of fish," says Ribeiro. "I've never seen that colour." 'Serious pollutants' The disaster was the second involving Vale in three years in the mineral-rich region. The company has tried to contain the contamination by installing barriers to stop poisonous material reaching the Sao Francisco, hundreds of kilometres downstream. So far, Vale says, its water quality analysis shows toxicity levels near the dam are "below the legal limits for mining tailings" and are "not harmful to health." And its technicians predict that sludge from the dam would "not reach the Sao Francisco," Vale said in a statement Friday. But SOS Mata Atlantica's latest data show high levels of toxic waste are already present in the key waterway and that the source is the dam at Brumadinho. Various samples taken from the upper reaches earlier this month show concentrations of copper, iron, manganese and chromium that exceed the maximum limits allowed by Brazilian law. "These are serious pollutants," says Romilda Roncatti of SOS Mata Atlantica. But Brazilian authorities say the tailings have not spread more than one kilometre downstream and blame the increased turbidity on heavy rain. "It's normal at this time of year to find high levels of some elements like iron or manganese -- these two elements always have higher concentrations during floods," says Eduardo Viglio of the Geological Survey of Brazil, which is tasked with collecting data on minerals and water resources in the country. The government agency's own testing shows oxygen and acidity readings are also "normal," he adds. That is cold comfort for dos Santos, who says increased pollution in the Paraopeba has deprived him of an income from fishing. "The people who handle water treatment have said we can't use the water," he says. "This place is no use to me."

Can't be called water': Brazil marks two months since dam disaster

Nearly a week after a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/brazil-dam-collapse-death-toll-reaches-99-259-people-still-missing-194168">dam storing mining waste collapsed in southeast Brazil</a>, the human cost is clear, with nearly 350 killed or missing, but the environmental impact is still being evaluated.

Authorities fear the mineral-laced slurry released by the collapse could eventually pollute the Sao Francisco River, the second-longest in Brazil, which hosts various species of fish and has many towns on its banks.

Daily tests carried out by Brazil's national water agency ANA in the Paraopeba tributary, muddied along 200 kilometres&nbsp;by the dam burst, show the presence of metals in the water has spiked to unhealthy levels.

Residents along the riverbanks have already said fish they relied on for food were floating to the surface, dead.

"Most of us here are very rural, riverside people, so we use the Paraopeba River to feed ourselves. It gives us fish, we use it to water our plants, and now we can't do this anymore, so many people have been affected by the dam breaking," one local, Leda de Oliveira, 31, told AFP.

Worst industrial disaster

The latest ANA results showed iron, magnesium and aluminium at worrying levels.

It added that, while trace levels of lead and mercury had initially spiked, they had since fallen to normal counts. Arsenic — another impurity often found in iron ore waste — was not a problem, according to the tests.

But those measured just water quality, and not the way the elements were being absorbed in sediment, food chains and the general ecosystem.

Experts say the real long-term effects of the dam break at the mine, located near the town of Brumadinho and owned by Brazilian mining giant Vale, may not be evident for years.

"Right now there are many unknowns — how toxic is the waste? How mobile are the toxins? Will the waste move again? It is only when these things are known that we will really know how bad this will be," an expert in landslides, Professor David Petley at Britain's University of Sheffield, told AFP.

Immediate action, "very expensive if done properly," was needed to contain the pollution, he said, adding: "There is a lot of waste in the river. There is a risk that this now moves downstream in floods, or that toxins that it releases might move."

While Brumadinho is now considered Brazil's worst-ever industrial accident, given its high likely final death toll, a similar mining dam collapse three years earlier in the same region, near the town of Mariana, remains the country's worst environmental disaster. Its effects are still being measured today.

The dam near Mariana was part of a facility jointly owned by Vale. Nineteen people were killed. Pollution extended for &nbsp;650 kilometres (400 miles) along a river, to the Atlantic Ocean.

The 60 million tons of waste it released was more than four times greater than the 13 million tons held back by the Brumadinho dam. Whole ecosystems affected by the Mariana sludge were killed off.

Both disasters resulted from ruptures of tailings dams — reservoirs of detritus left over from the process of extracting iron ore. Such dams are the cheapest ways to store mining waste, but also the riskiest, as the two successive disasters showed.

Petley said it was to be hoped that measures to contain pollution were better now but added that both disasters were "scandalous failures."

'Recklessness'&nbsp;

Vale started decommissioning its tailings dams in Brazil after the 2015 Mariana disaster and has now accelerated the process for its remaining 10 dams.&nbsp;

But for Brumadinho, where many inhabitants worked at Vale, that process proved tragically slow.&nbsp;

Almost all of the dead and missing were workers at the mine, many buried by the sludge as they were having lunch in the facility's on-site cafeteria.

Many residents accuse the mining giant of putting profits over lives. Graffiti saying "Vale, murderer" has been scrawled on several walls in Brumadinho, and in mud at Vale's headquarters in Rio de Janeiro.

"We are all shaken. This should never have happened. There was a lot of recklessness. Today all of Brumadinho is in mourning," said Gustavo Franca, a 25-year-old real estate agent who lost many friends.

Vale paid dearly for Mariana. It and its partner in the joint venture, Anglo-Australian miner BHP, forked out $6 billion in compensation and fines. But, while 20 executives were charged, none ever went to trial and to date, no one was convicted.

Authorities have frozen $3 billion of Vale's assets to pay for damages from the latest disaster. Lawsuits are bound to follow.

It has also already lost around 20 per cent of its value on the stock market this week.

Nearly a week after a dam storing mining waste collapsed in southeast Brazil, the human cost is clear, with nearly 350 killed or missing, but the environmental impact is still being evaluated.

Nearly a week after a dam storing mining waste collapsed in southeast Brazil, the human cost is clear, with nearly 350 killed or missing, but the environmental impact is still being evaluated. Authorities fear the mineral-laced slurry released by the collapse could eventually pollute the Sao Francisco River, the second-longest in Brazil, which hosts various species of fish and has many towns on its banks. Daily tests carried out by Brazil's national water agency ANA in the Paraopeba tributary, muddied along 200 kilometres by the dam burst, show the presence of metals in the water has spiked to unhealthy levels. Residents along the riverbanks have already said fish they relied on for food were floating to the surface, dead. "Most of us here are very rural, riverside people, so we use the Paraopeba River to feed ourselves. It gives us fish, we use it to water our plants, and now we can't do this anymore, so many people have been affected by the dam breaking," one local, Leda de Oliveira, 31, told AFP. Worst industrial disaster The latest ANA results showed iron, magnesium and aluminium at worrying levels. It added that, while trace levels of lead and mercury had initially spiked, they had since fallen to normal counts. Arsenic — another impurity often found in iron ore waste — was not a problem, according to the tests. But those measured just water quality, and not the way the elements were being absorbed in sediment, food chains and the general ecosystem. Experts say the real long-term effects of the dam break at the mine, located near the town of Brumadinho and owned by Brazilian mining giant Vale, may not be evident for years. "Right now there are many unknowns — how toxic is the waste? How mobile are the toxins? Will the waste move again? It is only when these things are known that we will really know how bad this will be," an expert in landslides, Professor David Petley at Britain's University of Sheffield, told AFP. Immediate action, "very expensive if done properly," was needed to contain the pollution, he said, adding: "There is a lot of waste in the river. There is a risk that this now moves downstream in floods, or that toxins that it releases might move." While Brumadinho is now considered Brazil's worst-ever industrial accident, given its high likely final death toll, a similar mining dam collapse three years earlier in the same region, near the town of Mariana, remains the country's worst environmental disaster. Its effects are still being measured today. The dam near Mariana was part of a facility jointly owned by Vale. Nineteen people were killed. Pollution extended for 650 kilometres (400 miles) along a river, to the Atlantic Ocean. The 60 million tons of waste it released was more than four times greater than the 13 million tons held back by the Brumadinho dam. Whole ecosystems affected by the Mariana sludge were killed off. Both disasters resulted from ruptures of tailings dams — reservoirs of detritus left over from the process of extracting iron ore. Such dams are the cheapest ways to store mining waste, but also the riskiest, as the two successive disasters showed. Petley said it was to be hoped that measures to contain pollution were better now but added that both disasters were "scandalous failures." 'Recklessness' Vale started decommissioning its tailings dams in Brazil after the 2015 Mariana disaster and has now accelerated the process for its remaining 10 dams. But for Brumadinho, where many inhabitants worked at Vale, that process proved tragically slow. Almost all of the dead and missing were workers at the mine, many buried by the sludge as they were having lunch in the facility's on-site cafeteria. Many residents accuse the mining giant of putting profits over lives. Graffiti saying "Vale, murderer" has been scrawled on several walls in Brumadinho, and in mud at Vale's headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. "We are all shaken. This should never have happened. There was a lot of recklessness. Today all of Brumadinho is in mourning," said Gustavo Franca, a 25-year-old real estate agent who lost many friends. Vale paid dearly for Mariana. It and its partner in the joint venture, Anglo-Australian miner BHP, forked out $6 billion in compensation and fines. But, while 20 executives were charged, none ever went to trial and to date, no one was convicted. Authorities have frozen $3 billion of Vale's assets to pay for damages from the latest disaster. Lawsuits are bound to follow. It has also already lost around 20 per cent of its value on the stock market this week.

Deadly Brazil dam collapse raises fears of environmental woes

One of Brazil&rsquo;s famous television actors, Domingos Montagner, died after drowning in a river where the crew was recording scenes for a television show. 
 
Montagner, 54, played the lead in &lsquo;Velho Chico&rsquo;, a TV show named after the Sao Francisco river in the north-eastern state of Sergipe. 
 
The actor had gone for a swim in this river with an actress after shooting when he was dragged away by the river&#39;s strong currents, the actress informed. 
 
Camila Pitanga cried for help but locals failed to act since they believed that it was a part of shooting. 
 
Montagner played a farmer in the show and was often shown fighting off local gunmen. One scene also showed him drowning in the same Sao Francisco river, reappearing weeks later. 
 
The river, according to locals, is a dangerous place to shoot at given its record of at least one person, on an average, drowning every year in the town since 2005, reports said. 
 
Rescue teams found Montagner&#39;s body underwater four hours after the incident, some 300 metres (984 ft) away from where he had drowned. 
 
Montagner, born in Sao Paulo, worked in the circus before becoming a television actor in 2008. This was his 12th role on TV. 
 
He is survived by his wife, actress Luciana Lima, and three children. 
 
(WION)

The actor had gone for a swim in this river with an actress after shooting when he was dragged away by the river's strong currents

One of Brazil’s famous television actors, Domingos Montagner, died after drowning in a river where the crew was recording scenes for a television show. Montagner, 54, played the lead in ‘Velho Chico’, a TV show named after the Sao Francisco river in the north-eastern state of Sergipe. The actor had gone for a swim in this river with an actress after shooting when he was dragged away by the river's strong currents, the actress informed. Camila Pitanga cried for help but locals failed to act since they believed that it was a part of shooting. Montagner played a farmer in the show and was often shown fighting off local gunmen. One scene also showed him drowning in the same Sao Francisco river, reappearing weeks later. The river, according to locals, is a dangerous place to shoot at given its record of at least one person, on an average, drowning every year in the town since 2005, reports said. Rescue teams found Montagner's body underwater four hours after the incident, some 300 metres (984 ft) away from where he had drowned. Montagner, born in Sao Paulo, worked in the circus before becoming a television actor in 2008. This was his 12th role on TV. He is survived by his wife, actress Luciana Lima, and three children. (WION)

Brazilian actor dies after drowning on sets of television show