Brazil dam breaks killing at least 16
A dam has burst at a southeastern Brazilian iron ore mine, letting loose potentially-toxic material and killing more than a dozen people.
The incident took place near the Brazilian city of Mariana in the state of Minas Gerais on Thursday, with local media reports saying it had killed at least 16 people, leaving 45 others missing.
But an official with the state’s civil defense department said "there is no confirmation of the number" of those killed in the dam burst, adding, “It’s very difficult to reach the site by car, there’s a lot of mud. Our rescue tactic is to get as close as possible and cover the rest on foot.”
The dam was used to contain water and residue from mining operations. The incident also destroyed dozens of homes in the village of Banto, which has been flooded.
The flood is also said to have reached another village called Paracatú de Baixo, where the inhabitants are being evacuated.
"It is not possible at this moment to confirm a cause... nor if there are victims," Samarco Mineração S.A., which owns the mine, said in a statement on its website.
Samarco is a joint venture between top iron ore miners Brazil's Vale and Australia's Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited (BHP), whose sphere of operation pertains to mining, metals, and petroleum.
The city council in Mariana, a city of about 40,000 people and 300 kilometers (185 miles) north of Rio de Janeiro, said it was evacuating about 600 people to higher ground from the village.
Meanwhile, the proximity of the Gualaxo do Norte river to the dam has fueled fears of potential water contamination.
Nearby Brazilian army units have been placed on alert to help the search and rescue effort and Gilberto Occhi, the minister of national integration, has planned to visit the state on Friday.
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