Hundreds missing after Brazil dam collapse deluges community in liquid waste

Source: CBS News


UPDATED ON: JANUARY 25, 2019 / 4:36 PM / CBS/AP

Sao Paulo -- A mining dam collapsed in southeastern Brazil on Friday, inundating a nearby community in an enormous swath of reddish brown liquid waste and leaving an estimated 200 missing, according to Minas Gerais state firefighters. Brazilian mining company Vale SA said in a statement that the flow reached the community of Vila Ferteco and an administrative office, where employees were present, which "indicated the possibility of victims."

The company said it didn't have further information on deaths or injuries at the dam, located in the town of Brumadinho. Parts of the city were evacuated and local firefighters were rescuing people by helicopter and ground vehicles.

There were no official reports of deaths, but the state fire department press department told The Associated Press that about 200 people were estimated to be missing.

According to BBC News, the mayor of Brumadinho, Avimar de Melo, told local newspaper Hoje em Dia that "at least 50 people" had been killed. "We do not have more details because everything is happening very fast," he said.


Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/brazil-dam-collapse-hundreds-missing-disaster-brumadinho-vale-live-updates-2019-01-25/