Brazil mining flood could devastate environment for years

[n2doc]

The collapse of two dams at a Brazilian mine has cut off drinking water for quarter of a million people and saturated waterways downstream with dense orange sediment that could wreck the ecosystem for years to come.

Nine people were killed, 19 are still listed as missing and 500 people were displaced from their homes when the dams burst at an iron ore mine in southeastern Brazil on Nov. 5.

The sheer volume of water disgorged by the dams and laden with mineral waste across nearly 500 km is staggering: 60 million cubic meters, the equivalent of 25,000 Olympic swimming pools or the volume carried by about 187 oil tankers.

President Dilma Rousseff compared the damage to the 2010 oil spill by BP PLC in the Gulf of Mexico and Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira called it an "environmental catastrophe."

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http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/15/us-brazil-damburst-environment-idUSKCN0T40PY20151115#ISsZeEcUchQlDWmH.97

[femmedem]

1. I have a friend who lives in Brazil. She wrote this on facebook:

"Iron ore mine dam bursts, killing people, covering with toxic mud towns, farm lands, animals and destroying all life in a beautiful river. The fresh water supply of many towns has been contaminated or is in the process of being contaminated. Thousands of people are being threatened with drinking water shortages. The mud has not stopped yet, it is predicted to reach the ocean. An enormous environmental catastrophe, the impact of which will affect a very large area for decades if not hundreds of years. No word in the international news, very little in the Brazilian media. Many still have no concept of the seriousness of the situation. So far, not enough media coverage. Most information has been propagated by witnesses, on social media. And not enough government support for the afflicted areas! This is a calamity of massive proportions! I am in mourning and mad as hell! Please, share whatever you can find about this disaster caused by greed and negligence! I apologize for inaccuracies. The dreadful images speak for themselves."

[polly7]

2. Horrible. nt.

[eppur_se_muova]

3. Leave private industry to "police itself", and this is the inevitable result. nt

[sue4e3]

4. I never say this here but Amen