Seventeen people are confirmed dead and 45 more are missing after a dam in a mining waste area broke in Brazil and flooded one nearby town located in the state of Minas Gerais. Fire Chief Adao Severino of Minas Gerais said that Bento Rodrigues, a village located near the dam, has been buried under mud.
"The number of missing is going to surpass 40, but that is not official," he said, according to Agence France-Presse. "The situation is grim. It is dark. There is a lot of mud."
There are about 400 people who reside in Bento Rodrigues. The dam, located seven kilometers away from the town, holds mining residue from mining operations in the area, which could possibly be toxic.
Samarco Mineracao SA, a business venture which involves both BHP Billiton Ltd. and Vale SA, said they are doing their best to control the injuries and environmental damages caused by the incident. The mining company that handles all operations has released a statement. The said they are making "every effort to prioritize care to people and mitigate damage to the environment," according to the Telegraph UK. "It is not possible at this moment to confirm a cause ... nor if there are victims."
Mines Gerais state head, Juliano Duarte, witnessed the incident firsthand.
"An avalanche of liquid waste destroyed houses, a school, a church, a medical center, carried away vehicles. Many families have been left homeless and are waiting for news about their loved ones. The emergency work is hampered by the fact that the flooded areas are only accessible via helicopters. This is one of the saddest scenes I ever had to witness," he said, according to TASS, Reuters reported.
