Dam collapses in Brazil, hundreds missing

By Devin Watkins

As rescue workers hover in helicopters over rivers of sludge, other teams on the ground use earth-moving equipment to search for the missing.

The dam collapsed on Friday near the Brazilian town of Brumadinho, in Minas Gerais state.

Torrents of muddy sludge were released, burying the dam’s cafeteria where workers were having lunch.

The torrent also flooded nearby farms and neighborhoods, destroying houses and vehicles.

It’s not clear what caused the dam to collapse.

Surveying the damage

The iron-ore mine and connected dam are owned by Vale, Brazil’s largest mining company.

Local firefighters say as many as 300 people could be missing.

State governor Romeu Zema surveyed the damage with President Jair Bolsonaro on Saturday. He said there was little chance of finding survivors.

Zema later tweeted that those responsible for the dam’s collapse will be punished.