Rebecca Manzi The 2015 collapse of the Fundão Dam in Minas Gerais, Brazil, released 39 million cubic yards of toxic mining waste, devastating ecosystems, displacing communities, and claiming 19 lives. Despite a $30 billion settlement, another dam failure in 2019 at Brumadinho, managed by Vale, caused 270 deaths and further destruction. Both disasters reveal severe corporate negligence and the urgent need for stronger accountability and prevention in mining operations.
@Wikipedia
The Fundão Dam collapse in Mariana, Brazil’s Minas Gerais state, represents one of the worst environmental disasters on record in this country. The accident involved a dam owned by Samarco, a joint venture between Vale and BHP Billiton mining companies, and it happened on November 5, 2015.
When the dam failed, it released more than 39 million cubic yards of toxic mining waste byproducts from the processing of iron ore into the village of Bento Rodrigues. The disaster took 19 lives-17 confirmed and 2 missing-and caused damage to the environment and local communities that cannot be measured.
Destruction of the toxic flow
The sludge traveled a distance of over 410 miles down the Gualaxo, Carmel, and Rio Doce rivers, spreading pollutants, destroying habitats, and, after two weeks, reached the Atlantic Ocean. An estimated area of 5.8 square miles were polluted; an estimated 250,000 people did not have more access to potable water.
Efforts towards accountability and compensation
The investigations revealed that it was caused by inadequate drainage systems or soil liquefaction from a minor seismic event. The disaster, described as Brazil’s worst environmental accident, had devastating effects on wildlife, flora, and water quality.
The companies involved were sharply criticized for their failure to have taken effective prevention measures. After long-drawn-out negotiations, they agreed to pay close to US$30 billion in damages.
Of that amount, approximately US$17 billion will be paid to the Brazilian state to carry out projects over the next 20 years, while the balance will go toward supporting victims, help families, and finance environmental restoration and reconstruction projects. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva emphasized the need to learn from this tragedy, urging stronger accountability and preventive measures.
Brumadinho: a worse tragedy four years later
Despite the gravity of the 2015 disaster, lessons were not learned. In 2019, another dam collapse occurred in Brumadinho, also in Minas Gerais and under Vale’s management. This time, 270 lives were lost in an even more devastating disaster.
Millions of cubic yards of mining waste flowed into the Paraopeba River basin, creating widespread human and environmental destruction. Five years later, no direct perpetrators have been held accountable.
Investigations showed that the risk of collapse was known to Vale executives and TÜV Süd, the German company responsible for certifying the dam’s safety. Both companies, along with 16 individuals, were charged by the Minas Gerais state prosecutor’s office.
In 2021, Vale signed an agreement for an amount of US$7.7 billion to finance 160 projects in the Paraopeba basin, including environmental monitoring, improvement in safety, reconstruction, economic support for affected communities. The decision on individual compensations has yet to be decided in court.
