Environmental and human disaster in Brazil: the dramatic story of a tourist hostel that disappeared under the mineral mud of the dam that collapsed in Minas Gerais

The research is desperate for family members of tourists and staff who were working at the time of the tragedy that caused the breakup of the dam Córrego do Feijão in Minas Gerais, they are still missing. It would be more than 30 people who were at the hostel Nova Stay. Among the missing, the owner of the complex and recognized founder of the franchise "Number One", the businessman Márcio Mascarenhas (photo)who spent a few days rest with his wife and children in what is considered "his favorite place".

The Nova Estancia was attended by international artists, tourists and researchers who visited the prestigious museum of Inhotim, botanical garden, laboratory and cultural space of art, landscaping and environmental education. It was located a few kilometers from the Vale SA mining company, which broke out on Friday, January 25 in the Brumadinho region of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Its geographical location made it unique, with privileged views of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and a few kilometers from Inhotim, a place of attraction considered to be the largest outdoor contemporary art center in the world. 39 Latin America and the main tourist site of the region.

But the mineral mud river of Vale SA dam completely buried the facilities of the resort and the inn disappeared from the surface with all its inhabitants. Even a few meters away, an aqueduct with a railroad track did not stand up and was devoured by mud.

Firefighter Marcelo Augusto arrived with companions to reinforce the search for survivors or possible dead, and in statements to EFE Green, "lifeless bodies were saved although many others were buried by the 39; avalanche ".
When the dam collapsed, the tourist site counted 35 people, including the businessman Marcio Mascarenhas, who has since disappeared with his family and several employees, recognized as one of the most luxurious. of the region, having received celebrities in recent years. An example is singer Caetano Veloso, who was there in 2016 and who launched a strong message of support and solidarity following the tragedy, with the municipality of Brumadinho and his friends who managed to harvest at the same time. 39 inn. Also the Brazilian actor Marcos Veras, who was in 2018.

On the Booking.com platform, the hostel got a score of 8.8 (fabulous).

Testimonials and research

According to one resident of the area, there were "more than 30 people," including hostel staff and guests. Jeferson Ferreira de los Pasos related to Fohla from Sao Paulo his drama: "My sister worked here, her mother-in-law, our colleagues from the hostel, all the parents … I arrived here and I found myself and I tried to save a person, I succeeded to save two victims, one girl broke her leg and the other The lady was already over the edge and after about 40 minutes, the helicopter arrived, the one that broke the leg was lying and the mud covered her, she wanted to sleep but could not sleep before the arrival of the helicopter .to her We continue to search my sister, news, someone to appear but nothing, maybe the mother of my sister-in-law has disappeared. "

After the breakup of the dam, a report from the State of Minas Gerais indicates that he had already sent messages to Whathapp 's guest house and that no response was forthcoming. been given. On Facebook, there was no return either. The phone of the establishment did not attend.

"The inn is about 200 meters from the Vale mining company, we tried to contact people who were there, we got nothing, we are dismayed," Rose said. de Oliveira, director of Verdes Flores restaurant.

In the midst of the tragedy, a Sao Paulo family is looking for five people who were in a tourist hostel near the mine, but they are not on the missing persons list. An architect and his relatives traveled to the city of Minas Gerais to visit Inhotim (botanical garden, landscaping and laboratory) and stayed at the "Posada Nueva Estancia", located a few kilometers from the mining company and remained under mud. Relatives made this record today in the search lists and spoke to the press.

"They were staying at the Posada Estancia, which was under the mud.A message sent by the daughter of a WhatsApp group after the Brumadinho Dam broke up keeps alive the hope that the five men are still alive," he said. Vagner Diniz at CBN.

It's about the couple, Vagner and Helena Taliberti, They arrived in Brumadinho to break the silence with the CBN report after a long journey in the hope of finding the family. "The trip was a commemoration of Helena's daughter-in-law, Fernanda DamianI was expecting a baby from your son Luís Taliberti Ribeiro da Silva. She is in the fifth month of pregnancy, "they recounted and shared a picture of a moment shared with the happy couple.

The images of the tragedy that has traveled the world these five days since the event have already sparked a wave of criticism in Brazil, as well as denunciations of various environmental organizations and risk management experts, who point out what happened as a "crime" for negligence. Vale SA, the world's largest producer of iron.

In November 2015, another similar crime was committed in Mariana, Mina Gerais, by the same company, Vale, in co-ownership with BHP Billiton, where millions of tons of toxic iron mine sludge covered entire cities, leaving up to 84 dead, about 300 missing, affecting more than 500 families between direct and indirect workers and causing irreversible environmental damage.

The Brazilian government yesterday ordered the arrest of officers of the company Vale SA, as part of the investigation conducted during the search to determine technical responsibilities. In addition, prosecutors ordered the mining company to suspend its activities on the site and technicians will focus investigations on the causes of the tragedy.

Source: BBC Brazil, Fohla de Sao Paulo, State and Correo do Povo