Mining giant found liable for deadly dam collapse

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"Mining giant BHP has been found liable by a London High Court for the catastrophic 2015 collapse of a dam in southeastern Brazil. The significant ruling on Friday concerns a lawsuit previously valued by claimants' lawyers at up to 36 billion ($48.32 billion). The Fundao dam, located near Mariana, was jointly owned and operated by BHP and Vale's Samarco joint venture. Its devastating failure caused Brazil's worst environmental disaster, killing 19 people, leaving thousands homeless, inundating forests, and polluting the entire Doce River."

"Judge Finola O'Farrell ruled that continuing to raise the dam's height when unsafe was the "direct and immediate cause" of its collapse, establishing BHP's liability under Brazilian law. The ruins of a house destroyed by floods following the deadly collapse of the Fundao dam in 2015 in Paracatu de Baixo village (AFP/Getty) BHP confirmed it would appeal the decision and continue to fight the lawsuit. BHP's President Minerals Americas, Brandon Craig,"

The Independent emphasizes on-the-ground reporting across reproductive rights, climate change, and Big Tech, and seeks donations to keep journalism accessible without paywalls. It references investigations and a documentary, 'The A Word', about American women fighting for reproductive rights. Mining giant BHP was found liable by a London High Court for the 2015 Fundao dam collapse in southeastern Brazil. The failure killed 19 people, left thousands homeless, inundated forests, and polluted the Doce River, prompting extensive lawsuits from citizens, governments, and businesses. Judge Finola O'Farrell found that unsafe raising of the dam's height was the direct and immediate cause of the collapse, establishing BHP's liability, and BHP confirmed it will appeal.

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