An Inside Look at the Aftermath of Deadly Vale Dam Break
A community buried, dozens dead and hundreds missing
The search for survivors continues after a dam owned by Vale SA burst, burying a community in rural Brazil. Rescue efforts were temporarily halted early Sunday amid warnings of increased water levels that could cause additional flooding and further spread waste across the region.
Friday's accident at the Feijao mine in Brumadinho is the country’s second deadly dam break in just over three years. As of Sunday night, authorities have confirmed 58 dead and hundreds still missing.
The threat adds pressure to the world's largest iron ore producer as the company faces questions on accident prevention. It is also a test of President Jair Bolsonaro's new administration and environmental reform plans. Vale’s ADRs fell in New York Friday, and authorities leveled a combined $3 billion in blocked funds and fines against the company as the human and ecological costs mount.