Warning in Brazil: evacuate the area of ​​the mining dam before an imminent risk of a new break

Authorities This Sunday, residents of at least two communities were evacuated before the "imminent" danger of breakage from another dike from the Vale mining company in the same complex where on Friday a dam collapsed and left for the moment 34 confirmed dead and more than 250 missing.

The alarms sounded this morning because there is a high risk of explosion of another dike of the Córrego do Feijao mine, in the city of Brumadinho, in the state of Minas Gerais (southeast), according to firefighters.

Rescue teams evacuated residents of the rural communities of Córrego do Feijao and Tejuco, both of which are under the jurisdiction of Brumadinho, and are being displaced further up the area.

"At approximately 5.30 am (0730 GMT), alarms were triggered, indicating the possibility of an imminent risk of dam failure B VI, which contains water. Since yesterday, a pump has been manufactured to extract the water to empty it and make it safer, "said spokesman Pedro Aihara.

The mining company Vale, owner of the mine, confirmed in a statement that the alarms had sounded in the mining area of ​​Córrego do Feijao "by detecting higher water levels" in dike VI, which is part of Brumadinho complex.

Due to the risk of a new break, the The searches were interrupted this Sunday and, according to the latest information, there would still be between 250 and 300Most of them are employees of Vale, in full divergence of numbers between the different institutions involved in the rescue operation.

In addition, at least 34 people died after a sea of ​​waste and lama buried the company's mining plant and several houses located in rural areas along the way.

After the disaster, Justice has blocked Vale's accounts and determined, through two different processes, the blockade of R $ 6,000 million (about $ 1,621 million) from society for "the immediate and effective protection of the victims and the reduction of the consequences" of the disaster.

(With EFE information)