At least 17 people have been killed and more than 50 injured after a tailings dam burst at Samarco’s Germano mining site near the town of Mariana in Minas Gerais, south-east Brazil.
Located close to the Gualaxo do Norte river, the Fundao dam contained tailings, a mining waste product of metal filings, water and burst in the mining region between Ouro Preto and Mariana.
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The dam released heavy water and mud into the town of Bento Rodrigues.
The burst dam devastated the nearby town with mudslides that destroyed dozens of homes.
Samarco said in a statement that the company is mobilising every effort to prioritise care for people and the mitigation of environmental damage.
The company added that it informed authorities, with response teams on-site to provide assistance.
As the dam is located close to the river, potential water contamination is also expected.
Samarco is a joint venture between iron ore firms Vale in Brazil and Australia-based BHP Billiton, producing around 30 million tonnes of iron ore annually.
