Two months after the devastating dam burst on an iron ore mine in southeastern Brazil with more than 200 deaths, another dam could burst in the area. An independent inspector found out that the stability of the Sul Superior Dam at the Gongo Soco Mine was critical, the mining company Vale said. Raising to the highest risk level three has already led to evacuations. The level meant that the "imminent danger" of a dam break, said Flavio Godinho of civil defense to the broadcaster Globo.
The iron ore mine Córrego do Feijao in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais was also operated by Vale. On January 25, the dam breach released a mudslide that rolled over parts of Brumadinho and adjacent settlements. The liquid mass interspersed with heavy metals also reached the adjacent river Paraopeba and contaminated it. So far, 203 bodies have been recovered, as the Civil Defense of Minas Gerais writes on its website. 105 people are still considered missing.
Even in a devastating accident in 2015, Vale had played a role: The group was involved with 50 percent of a mining company, which broke the dams of a retention basin. 19 people were killed at that time.