Dam break in Brazil – 200 people unaccounted for

After a dam burst in South-East Brazil, around missing 200 people. This is the fire brigade said on Friday, after a mudslide had buried several houses. First of all, the fire service had spoken of "several dead" in the small town of Brumadinho in the state of Minas Gerais.

As the rescue operation was still ongoing, there was initially no exact number of victims, it was said. The dam belongs to the largest Brazilian mining company Vale. The iron ore giant confirmed the dam break and said that was most important to save the lives of employees and local residents. Some of the houses were up to the roof in mud, as seen on TV images.

The crew of a rescue helicopter tried to free two people who were stuck up to their bellies in mud. On a Video was to see how the mud avalanche coming down a street flooded.

*World Weather* Flood / mudflow in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, Brazil yesterday, January 25. Report via Severe Weather of the Planet. pic.twitter.com/jlXyXN0Dhh

— severe-weather.EU (@severeweatherEU) January 25, 2019

The 39'000 inhabitants of the town of Brumadinho is located about 60 km southwest of Belo Horizonte in southeastern Brazil. The city administration issued a warning and asked the residents, from the Banks of the river Paraopeba. Residents of low-lying areas were brought from their homes in safety, as representatives of the civil protection said.

Minister for the environment, Ricardo Salles, the website G1, an emergency team from the environment Agency, said Ibama was on the way to the disaster area. Five helicopters were dispatched to search for Survivors and assess the extent of the destruction.

(oli/sda)

Created: 25.01.2019, 21:21 PM