Toxic mud from collapsed dam in Brazil enters the Atlantic Ocean
- 9 years ago
MARIANA, BRAZIL — Toxic mud from a collapsed iron mine dam in Brazil has travelled more than 500 kilometres down the Rio Doce river to reach the Atlantic Ocean.
Sixty million cubic metres of iron-ore waste, enough to fill 25,000 Olympic-size swimming pools, engulfed districts and contaminated rivers in southeast Brazil earlier this month, said Brazil's environmental agency, Ibama.
Toxic substances such as mercury, arsenic, chromium and manganese at levels exceeding human consumption levels have been detected in the contaminated mud, reported BBC.
Samarco, the mine owner, has erected nine kilometres of floating barriers to protect the river bank. The company has also been widening the mouth of the river to allow the mud to flow faster into the ocean, where it will become diluted.
Andres Ruchi, director of the Marine Biology school in Santa Cruz, said the mud will threaten many species of marine life that feed and breed near the river mouth, including leatherback turtles, whales, and dolphins.
More than 600 people have been affected by the toxic mud. Eleven people were killed and 12 people remain missing.
Samarco has agreed to pay more than US$260 million in compensation for the disaster, but stressed that inspections by authorities last July indicated the dam was "safe." The company said in a statement to Al Jazeera that it will provide "seven available helicopters for rescue operations," as well as "600 emergency kits (composed by mattress, linen, towels, blankets and materials for personal hygiene). 3,800 snacks and meals were available, and 10,000 bottles of water were delivered."
Fishers and farmers that live along the river have been severely affected by the disaster, with biologists saying it could take 30 years to clean up the basin.
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Sixty million cubic metres of iron-ore waste, enough to fill 25,000 Olympic-size swimming pools, engulfed districts and contaminated rivers in southeast Brazil earlier this month, said Brazil's environmental agency, Ibama.
Toxic substances such as mercury, arsenic, chromium and manganese at levels exceeding human consumption levels have been detected in the contaminated mud, reported BBC.
Samarco, the mine owner, has erected nine kilometres of floating barriers to protect the river bank. The company has also been widening the mouth of the river to allow the mud to flow faster into the ocean, where it will become diluted.
Andres Ruchi, director of the Marine Biology school in Santa Cruz, said the mud will threaten many species of marine life that feed and breed near the river mouth, including leatherback turtles, whales, and dolphins.
More than 600 people have been affected by the toxic mud. Eleven people were killed and 12 people remain missing.
Samarco has agreed to pay more than US$260 million in compensation for the disaster, but stressed that inspections by authorities last July indicated the dam was "safe." The company said in a statement to Al Jazeera that it will provide "seven available helicopters for rescue operations," as well as "600 emergency kits (composed by mattress, linen, towels, blankets and materials for personal hygiene). 3,800 snacks and meals were available, and 10,000 bottles of water were delivered."
Fishers and farmers that live along the river have been severely affected by the disaster, with biologists saying it could take 30 years to clean up the basin.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to TomoNews, where we animate the most entertaining news on the internets. Come here for an animated look at viral headlines, US news, celebrity gossip, salacious scandals, dumb criminals and much more! Subscribe now for daily news animations that will knock your socks off.
Visit our official website for all the latest, uncensored videos: http://us.tomonews.net
Check out our Android app: http://bit.ly/1rddhCj
Check out our iOS app: http://bit.ly/1gO3z1f
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Instagram @tomonewsus http://instagram.com/tomonewsus