43,000+ global companies doing business in the region 102,000+ key contacts related to companies and projects news and interviews about your industry in English This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page the same state where the worst man-made environmental disaster in Brazil’s history happened three years ago - Minas Gerais fire department A dam belonging to mining company Vale collapsed this afternoon in Brumadinho, near Belo Horizonte, in Minas Gerais, southeast Brazil. It's the same state where the worst man-made environmental disaster in Brazil's history happened three years ago The local fire department reported that at least 200 people are missing Four people were reportedly rescued and taken to a hospital in Belo Horizonte the tailings have reached the company’s administrative area and part of the Vila Ferteco community one of the largest outdoor art centers in Latin America Vale’s Mina do Feijão dam collapsed only three years after the environmental crime in Mariana a dam broke pouring out 62 million cubic meters (roughly 2.1 billion cubic feet) of toxic mud in the area and leaving 19 dead The Fundão dam belonged to miner Samarco While it is still early to assess the actual damage that may be caused by today’s dam break experts told Brasil de Fato the toxic mud could reach 19 cities a coordinator of the Movement for People’s Sovereignty in Mining (MAM) said the Minas Gerais state government hastily granted the licensing to operate the dam in December speeding up the process to issue three licenses – a preliminary one “All the local communities were terrified about what that expansion could mean And now we see people’s fear has come true.” The Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB) expressed their solidarity with the people who have been impacted by today’s collapse denouncing how mining operations are currently conducted “Privatized and multinational companies that pursue profit at all costs impact the lives of thousands of people,” a statement released by the movement after the Brumadinho disaster reads “The dam can hold 1 million cubic meters [35 million cubic feet] of refuse which is now pouring over the Paraopeba River leaving a trace of destruction and death and putting the supply of thousands of families in more than 48 cities in the Paraopeba basin at risk.” a Workers’ Party federal congressman said that this is a case of “criminal irresponsibility.” “It’s the same [corporate] group It’s unacceptable that such irresponsibility toward people’s lives and the environment can keep on happening like this.” the State Council for Environmental Policy approved the expansion of the mining operation in Brumadinho and neighboring Sarzedo The mines are located in the buffer zone of the Serra do Rola Moça State Park Local residents were strongly opposed to the expansion of the operations the Minas Gerais government reported that a task force is working in the area around the dam Vale issued a statement informing it’s top priority right now is to “protect the lives of its employees and the members of the community.” All original content produced and editorially authored by Brasil de Fato may be reproduced provided it is not altered and proper credit is given All original content produced and editorially authored by Brasil de Fato may be reproduced provided it is not altered and proper credit is given.