Increase to 99 dead and 259 missing due to mining tragedy in Brazil

Death toll after Friday's mining disaster in Brazil mounted this Wednesday at 99, while the authorities continue the search to locate the 259 people still missing, according to the latest report published by firefighters.

The spokesman of the firefighters of Minas Gerais, the lieutenant Pedro Aihara, informed at a press conference that rescue services managed to recover 15 corpses only this wednesday 10 were located in the Vale dining room, responsible for the mine where the disaster occurred.

Six days after what is already considered one of the great environmental tragedies of Brazilrescuers are less and less able to find survivors.

"We have identified 18 research points along the waste path and no area currently has search and rescue equipment," said Aihara.

The spokesman added that despite the 99 confirmed deaths, "more body and body segments"They are always found and transported at every moment.

The tragedy took place Friday afternoon in the city of Brumadinho, in the state of Minas Gerais (southeast), during the break-up of one of the dams of the gigantic coal mine Córrego do Feijao, in which Vale stored tons of mineral waste.

For this Wednesday 's work, firefighters from Minas Gerais received reinforcements from Sao Paulo troops and, on Thursday, the arrival of teams from the state of Santa Catarina and the US. Espirito Santo (south-east of the south) is expected.

In addition, the spokesman of the military police of Minas Gerais, Major Flávio Santiago, announced that the platoons of a battalion of special operations of the institution will join the search and rescue work in "specific points of difficult access".

Throughout the day, the work of more than 500 people involved in the relief services, including 58 volunteers and 136 Israeli soldiers arrived Monday, were interrupted "specific moments"Because of the intense rains that hit the area, but had no influence"significant"In the works, explained the spokesman of the fire department.

"The rain did not significantly affect the level of water in the second dam, which was one of our biggest concerns." He interrupted the work for a very short time "said the lieutenant.

Aihara said that in areas where mud is not so thick, rescuers have already started using heavy machinery, such as excavator shovels.

After the disaster, Brazilian justice has blocked about 12 billion reais (about 3.18 billion dollars) from Vale's accounts guarantee the payment of compensation to the victims and environmental repairs and damages caused.

The company announced yesterday that it would "end" all its dams with a lift system similar to that of the Brumadinho mine in order to "avoid further tragedies" at the same time. to come up.

(With EFE information)