A report detailing the continuing devastating effects of Brazil's Fundao dam collapse eight years ago criticizes the slow pace of cleanup efforts and highlights the risks from other dangerous dams.
Eight years after the collapse of the Fundão tailings dam in Mariana, Minas Gerais, Brazil, researchers continue to highlight the ongoing environmental and social devastation caused by the disaster.
Articles published in open access journals Nature Conservation This highlights the continuing and growing impacts of this collapse, one of the world's most serious environmental disasters.
The 2015 collapse, caused by the Samarco mining company, released around 50 million cubic metres of toxic mud, burying the village of Bento Rodrigues and severely polluting more than 600 kilometres of rivers and coastal habitats, affecting over one million people in 35 cities, killing 19 people, causing widespread health problems and forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate.
The researchers found that environmental damage is only getting worse every year: high concentrations of heavy metals continue to threaten human and wildlife health, and significant bioaccumulation has been observed in endangered species. seed It is also home to species such as the Franciscan dolphin. Furthermore, the introduction of invasive species has further destabilized the ecosystem.
Response and Recovery Efforts
The paper, led by Dr. Casio Cardoso Pereira and Fernando Gaulart from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, criticizes the slow and controversial response of the Renova Foundation, the organization set up by the responsible companies to deal with the aftermath of the disaster. While some compensation and restoration efforts have been made, the researchers argue that these measures are insufficient and often inadequate.
One of the most worrying findings is the continuing risk posed by similar structures across Brazil, where hundreds of dams remain in poor condition. The study advocates replacing these unsafe dams with safer alternatives, such as dry mining, which would significantly reduce the risk of future collapse.
“We need urgent, science-based public policies that prioritize the restoration of the Rio Doce basin and comprehensive compensation to affected communities. Achieving this requires collaboration, including local and national oversight and independent scientific expertise, to prevent further ecological and human disaster,” said Dr. Casio Cardoso Pereira.
As the region continues to face the compounding impacts of climate change, including more cyclones and heavy rains exacerbating the spread of pollutants, this paper reminds us that the legacy of the Fundão disaster is far from over.
References: “Eight years after the Fundão tailings dam collapse: a muddy mess on the banks,” by Cassio Cardoso Pereira, Stephanie Fernández, Gerard Wilson Fernández, and Fernando Figueiredo Goulart, August 20, 2024; Nature Conservation.
DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.56.133441