An aerial view of the devastation following the collapse of the dam in January 2019.
Photo:
douglas magno / Agence France-Presse / Getty Images
SÃO PAULO: Brazilian miner Vale agreed to pay $ 7 billion in compensation to the state of Minas Gerais, where the collapse of its dam two years ago killed 270 people, polluted rivers and destroyed the surrounding landscape.
Thursday’s deal, the largest judicial deal in Brazil’s history, according to prosecutors, is intended to compensate the state for the socioeconomic damage caused by the disaster, but does not affect a number of pending homicide and environmental charges in the case.
When the Vale dam exploded in Brumadinho in January 2019, it triggered a tsunami of mining waste in the valley at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour, and wiped out the site’s dining room as there were many workers in lunch, in addition to destroying houses and a guest house.
“Vale is committed to fully repairing and compensating for the damage caused by the tragedy in Brumadinho and to contributing more and more to the improvement and development of the communities in which we operate,” CEO Eduardo Bartolomeo said in a statement. “We know we have work to do and we stand firm on that purpose.”
The disaster of Brumadinho’s tailings dam in Brazil killed 270 people. This video shows when the disaster started. Photo: AP / Globo TV (originally published on February 1, 2019)
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