UK Court Holds Mining Giant BHP Responsible for Brazil Dam Disaster
A major legal milestone has been reached this week as London’s High Court found the mining giant BHP liable for one of Brazil’s worst environmental disasters. This ruling stems from the collapse of the Fundão Dam in Mariana, southeastern Brazil, back in November 2015, which killed 19 people, destroyed hundreds of homes, and released tens of millions of cubic meters of toxic mining waste into the Doce River. The dam was operated by Samarco, a joint venture between BHP and the Brazilian company Vale, and was used to store iron ore mining waste.
The court concluded that BHP’s decision to continue raising the dam’s height despite clear safety risks was a “direct and immediate cause” of the collapse. Judge Finola O’Farrell emphasized that the dangers were foreseeable and that the collapse could have been prevented. Because BHP’s headquarters were in the UK at the time, the case was heard in London, with more than 600,000 people—including local residents, governments, and businesses—seeking compensation. The total claims in this civil lawsuit have been valued at up to £36 billion, marking it as one of the largest environmental group actions in English legal history.
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While BHP has pledged to appeal the ruling, arguing that the UK lawsuit duplicates legal proceedings and compensation programs already in place in Brazil, the court’s decision represents a significant step toward justice for the victims. BHP has already contributed to reparations through the Renova Foundation, which has provided cash compensation, new homes, and infrastructure support to affected communities, including the rebuilding of towns like Novo Bento. Despite this, claimants’ lawyers maintain that many victims have yet to receive full compensation, prompting the legal action in London.
The 2015 disaster was catastrophic. When the Fundão Dam collapsed, it unleashed an estimated 40 million tons of toxic sludge, containing heavy metals like arsenic, which swept through villages and polluted 370 miles of the Doce River. Indigenous communities, such as the Krenak people, have been particularly impacted, as the river is central to their culture and livelihood. Environmental and human damages continue to persist nearly a decade later, underscoring the long-term effects of the spill.
Survivors, like Gelvana Rodrigues da Silva, who lost her seven-year-old son in the flood, welcomed the High Court ruling. She said it felt like justice was finally being served, as those responsible were being held accountable for the devastation they caused. The next phase of the trial, set to begin in October 2026, will determine the precise financial damages BHP must pay. In parallel, Brazil continues to host major climate and environmental initiatives, including COP30, highlighting ongoing tensions between global environmental advocacy and local community realities.
This landmark case has not only placed a spotlight on corporate accountability but also emphasized the importance of safeguarding vulnerable communities against preventable environmental catastrophes. The Mariana dam disaster remains a stark reminder of the human and ecological costs when safety and oversight are neglected.
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