On January 25, 2019, a dam collapsed in Brumadinho, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The disaster killed 272 people and nearly 12 million cubic meters of toxic mud cascaded through local communities and into water systems.
Despite the clear warnings about the dam’s stability, German company TÜV SÜD’s subsidiary had certified the dam as safe. Vale do Rio Doce continued operations which ultimately led to the disaster.
The collapse of the ore tailings dam caused 272 deaths as well as large-scale environmental devastation and the destruction of communities. An agreement for reparations was signed two years later concerning collective damages. Plans included socio-economic investments, socio-environmental recovery, efforts to guarantee water security, and improvements to public services and urban mobility works.
What happened to the responsible?
The two companies, TÜV SÜD’s and Vale, and 16 other people were indicted.
The defendants are currently working on the submission of their defenses and TÜV SÜD is being sued in Germany, where the company’s headquarters are located. In 2021, an agreement to repair damages caused by the catastrophe was signed between the Public Ministry, the Public Defender’s Office, the government of Minas Gerais and Vale.
The agreement foresees the payment of R$37.68 billion in 160 projects in the Paraopeba Basin, ranging from income transfer programs to environmental monitoring and security and reconstruction works.
There is also an agreement for individual compensation payments, but the matter has not yet been initiated in court. Many families of victims and those affected reached extrajudicial agreements with Vale. According to the mining company, more than 15,400 people signed compensation agreements individually, resulting in a total compensation in the amount of R$3.5 billion.
Source: Agência Brasil and CNN Brasil