The dam collapse in January is Brazil's most deadly mining accident and its second major collapse of a mining dam in about three years. The previously unreported document is the first evidence that Vale itself was concerned about the safety of the dam. The tailings dam collapse on January 25 in the mineral-rich state of Minas Gerais was Brazil's most deadly mining accident and its second major collapse of a mining dam in about three years. It was the cause of another deadly dam collapse in 2015, at a nearby mine co-owned by Vale, which resulted in Brazil's worst-ever environmental disaster. Vale has said it will invest some $US400 million from 2020 to reduce its reliance on tailings dams, which store muddy detritus from mining.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 11, 2019 21:22 UTC