The Fundão dam disaster in Mariana, Brazil
Mariana is a town in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Over the past decades, the region has received widespread attention and investment due to its natural and mineral resources, particularly iron ore. Companies such as BHP Billiton and Vale have invested in Mariana since 1978, contributing to Brazil’s economic development. In 2008, Brazil became the world’s leading distributor of iron ore.
On November 5, 2015, the Fundão dam collapsed, releasing approximately 52 million cubic meters of iron waste containing mercury and arsenic into the surrounding region. The resulting mudslide killed 19 civilians and displaced hundreds of people. In the town of Bento Rodrigues alone, 600 residents were displaced, and thousands of animals were engulfed by toxic mud.
Much of the waste flowed into the region’s main tributary, the Rio Doce. Pollutants reached the Atlantic Ocean just 17 days after the disaster, contaminating wildlife along the river’s entire course. The event became what then-President Dilma Rousseff described as “Brazil’s worst environmental tragedy.”
The company responsible, Samarco, is an ongoing joint venture between Vale and BHP Billiton. Although the companies have been heavily fined for environmental violations, little justice has come to the families affected. There is widespread concern about preventative safety measures for other mining operations in the state. There are approximately 57 similar tailings dams in Minas Gerais.
