Victims of Brazil’s worst environmental disaster caused by toxic mining waste turning to a UK court for compensation almost nine years later. The class-action lawsuit at the High Court of Justice in London seeks a record 36 billion pounds in damages from BHP, the mining giant that owns 50 percent of the Brazilian company responsible. The lawsuit was filed in the UK as one of BHP’s main entities was based in London at the time of the disaster in 2015.
The lawsuit alleges that BHP is a polluter that must pay for the devastation caused by the tailings dam rupture, which killed 19 people and polluted the Doce River. The disaster wiped out a village and severely impacted local communities, leaving behind irreversible damage. The Krenak Indigenous people, who revere the river as a deity, have suffered greatly from the pollution.
BHP denies any responsibility for the dam’s failure, claiming limited knowledge of its condition. However, the victims are determined to seek justice and full reparations for the destruction and loss they have endured. The trial in London comes as BHP and its partner Vale SA negotiate a substantial settlement with Brazilian authorities to compensate for the damages caused.
Survivors are still grappling with the trauma and aftermath of the disaster, with many struggling to rebuild their lives. The trial in London is seen as a crucial opportunity for the victims to seek accountability and recognition for the immense harm caused by the environmental catastrophe. The victims are hopeful that justice will be served, even if their last hope lies in the hands of a UK court.
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