Brazil: Rousseff Says Mining Companies Must Pay for Damages
- 9 years ago
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said on Thursday that mine operator Samarco and owners, Anglo-Australia BHP Billiton and Brazilian Vale, are responsible for the disaster that left eight dead and 20 missing last week near the town of Mariana in southern Brazil. The mudslide occurred when two dams broke containing mining wastes that completely buried the town of Bento Rodriguez and polluted 500 km of the Rio Doce. The CEO of BHP Billiton inspected the area on Wednesday and promised to support Samarco. He announced the creation of an assistance fund for people affected by the disaster. teleSUR