Authorities in Brazil said that rescue operations after the collapse of a dam in the country continued on Sunday while the death toll rose to 40
BRUMADINHO, Brazil – Authorities in Brazil said that rescue operations after the collapse of a dam in the country continued on Sunday, while the death toll rose to 40.
On Friday, a dam collapsed near Brumadinho town, in the southeast Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais, leaving more than 300 people missing.
The tailings dam burst at the Feijao iron mine that is owned by Vale SA and immediately triggered search and rescue operations.
Brazilian rescue officials said on Saturday that nine people had been found dead after the dam burns and nearly 200 people were rescued.
However, workers were still searching for about 300 others that remained missing.
Romeu Zema, Governor of Minas Gerais said in a statement, « Unfortunately, at this point, the chances of finding survivors are minimal. We’re likely to just be rescuing bodies. »
Further, Brumadinho Mayor Avimar de Melo Barcelos said that the cause of the rupture is not known.
He warned that the death toll was expected to rise sharply.
A police spokesman told reporters that search dogs had been flown in from Rio de Janeiro to assist in the search operation.
