Federal highway closed in Brazil as dam collapse risk reported

This dam is also controlled by mining giant Vale

Published on 21/02/2019 - 14:06 By Carolina Gonçalves - Brasília

Federal highway BR-356, which leads to Itabitio, Ouro Preto, and Mariana, in central Minas Gerais state, is still closed this Thursday (Feb. 21).

According to the Military Highway Police, before the 15-km section of the road is unblocked, a report on the situation must be released on the conditions facing the Vargem Grande dam, run by Vale, which also owns the two dams that collapsed in the same state causing the deaths of hundreds of people—Mariana e Brumadinho.

The risk facing the Vargem Grande dam, located in Nova Lima, in the metropolitan region of state capital Belo Horizonte, was reported Wednesday (20). When the alarm rang, the highway was closed and locals removed from their homes.

Also yesterday (20), 75 residents from areas near five other upstream dams in the cities of Ouro Preto and Nova Lima were removed from the region for such dams to be deactivated, a ruling ordered by Brazil’s National Mining Agency (ANM).

Translation: Fabrício Ferreira -  Edition: Kleber Sampaio / Nira Foster

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