Brazil: Search Resumes Mine Disaster Site As Death Toll Jumps To 58

Local Editor

Fears of a second dam breach at a Brazilian mining complex receded Sunday, enabling a search to resume for the more than 300 people still missing two days after a dam collapse that has killed at least 58 people.

In further details, loudspeakers rang out at 5:30 am among homes surrounding the Corrego do Feijao mining complex in southeastern Brazil, warning of dangerously high water levels, according to mine owner Vale.

Workers at the complex are still reeling after a barrier at the site burst on Friday, spewing millions of tons of treacherous sludge and engulfing buildings, vehicles and roads.

Firefighters halted the search for survivors and immediately began evacuating communities near the dike, which contains at least three million cubic meters of water.

But several hours later, civil defense officials gave the all clear.

"There is no more risk of a break," said Lieutenant Colonel Flavio Godinho, a spokesman for the state civil defense agency, explaining that the high water levels had been drained off.

"The search has resumed -- by land, by aircraft and with dogs."

Dozens of helicopters were set to be deployed because the thick mud was too treacherous for ground rescuers.

The latest official toll from the dam breach was 58 dead and 305 missing, according to Godinho. He said rescuers found a bus full of bodies.

Vale, the Brazilian mining giant, said people were being allowed to return to their homes.

So far, 192 people have been rescued alive, 23 of whom were hospitalized with injuries, officials said.

The country’s President Jair Bolsonaro flew over the devastated zone on Saturday, later tweeting that it was "difficult to not be emotional before this scene."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team