London judge rules BHP Group liable for Brazil's 2015 Samarco dam collapse

"A London judge has ruled that the global mining company BHP Group is liable in Brazil's worst environmental disaster, when a dam collapse 10 years ago unleashed tons of toxic waste into a major river, killing 19 people and devastating villages downstream. Mrs Justice O'Farrell said at the high court that Australia-based BHP was responsible despite not owning the dam at the time."

"The river, which the Krenak Indigenous people revere as a deity, has yet to recover. About 600,000 Brazilians are seeking 36bn ($47bn) in compensation, although the ruling only addressed liability. A second phase of the trial will determine damages. The case was filed in Britain because one of BHP's two main legal entities was based in London at the time."

A London high court found Australia-based BHP Group liable for the Samarco tailings-dam collapse that ruptured on 5 November 2015, releasing as much as 40 million cubic metres of mining waste into the Doce River. The collapse killed 19 people, destroyed Bento Rodrigues and damaged towns and a 600km stretch of the river, harming freshwater life and Krenak Indigenous cultural connections. About 600,000 Brazilians seek 36bn ($47bn) in compensation; the ruling addressed liability only and a second phase will determine damages. The case was heard in Britain because a BHP legal entity was based in London, while Brazil reached a separate 132bn reais settlement with Samarco and Vale.

Read at www.theguardian.com