The number of people killed after the collapse of a dam owned by mining giant Vale, in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais state, went up to 65, according to data released by the state’s Civil Defense. Thirty-one bodies have been identified so far.
Of all locals and Vale workers reported missing, 386 have been located; 279 are still missing, as per official data.
Rescue operations are likely to last for weeks due to difficulties moving around in the area flooded by the mud and mineral waste. Yesterday (Jan. 28), the search teams managed to retrieve two bodies from the second bus found submerged in the mud.
Lieutenant Pedro Aihara, spokesperson with the Military Fire Department, said people are not likely to be found alive. “Chances are very low considering tragedies of this kind, with mud,” he said, explaining that the waste would hardly allow the storage of air.
Donation
In a press conference in Rio de Janeiro Monday (28), Luciano Siani, Vale’s executive director for Finance and Relations with Investors, said the company will donate $26.54 thousand to each family with a member killed in the tragedy, starting today. “This has nothing to do with compensation, which should be considerably higher amounts,” he pointed out.
Siani also declared that financial compensation for the city of Brumadinho will also be guaranteed.
