OMG Brazil Dam Collapsed Killing 15 People (photo)

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An iron ore tailings dam in the southeast Brazilian
state of Minas Gerais collapsed Thursday, killing at
least 15 people, according to local media reports.

The Fundao dam, owned by Samarco, a joint venture
between Vale and BHP Billiton, breached at around
4:20 p.m., local time, and released a torrential flow of
water and mud into the town of Bento Rodrigues,
where about 620 people live, seven kilometers away.
Media pictures showed the town was awash, buildings
swamped with water and vehicles swept away.

While Brazil’s union of iron and base metal industry
workers, Metabase, first gave the number of 15 people
dead, news website G1 is stating around 45 people
were also reported missing, including 30 who were
working on the dam at the time.

Minas Gerais’ Civil Defence agency, however, could
not confirm these numbers.

The nearest large town, Mariana, with a population of
about 40,000, stands about 20 km away from the dam.
The residents of Mariana have started a collection
campaign to bring food, water and medical supplies to
Bento Rodrigues.

Mariana’s Secretary of Social Defense, Braz
Azevedo, stated that the situation is very serious and
that was the risk of more mudslides. An investigation
has been opened into the incident while the federal and
state governments as well as the army have dispatched
ambulances, rescue teams and aid to help with the
rescue and relief efforts.

A press release from Samarco stated that it “could not
currently confirm the cause or size of the incident.”
The Brazilian Dam Committee called “the bursting of
the Samarco dam could be the worst ever registered in
Brazil.” Prior to this, the deadliest dam disaster in the
country took place in 1986 when the Mina de
Fernadinho dam broke, killing seven people.

A tailings dam, such as that which broke, serves to hold
waste earth and rock after ores have been separated
while also recycling the water used in processing.

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