Learn more about the Brazilian government's actions in the wake of the tragedy in Brumadinho (MG)

Shortly after the collapse of the tailings dam at the Córrego do Feijão mine in Brumadinho on Friday (January 25), the federal government began mobilizing a number a government agencies from several areas to address the disaster. On the afternoon of the day of the tragedy, President Jair Bolsonaro mobilized his cabinet to monitor the situation and coordinate integrated actions to support the state of Minas Gerais and the municipality of Brumadinho.

On Saturday (26) morning, several ministers and the President of the Republic visited the site to inspect the progress of the actions and take the necessary measures immediately.

With the collapse of the dam owned by Vale SA, several tons of mud and mining tailings spread, causing a major disaster. In addition to loss of life, the calamity has destroyed the administrative offices of the company and several houses and properties in the area. To date, 60 people are confirmed dead, 135 lost their homes and 292 remain missing. Another 382 people were found and 191 were rescued.

The federal, state and municipal governments are working non-stop on victim rescue and assistance efforts, which are being aided by Israeli experts and state-of-the-art technology. The Israeli plane arrived in Brazil late Sunday (27), 57 hours after the disaster.

Check out the actions of the Brazilian government so far to provide assistance to victims and reduce the impact of the disaster:

Creation of the Ministerial Disaster Response Council

On the same day of the event, President Jair Bolsonaro announced the creation of the Ministerial Council for Disaster Response Supervision, tasked with monitoring and overseeing relief and recovery actions in Brumadinho.

The council, made up of ten ministers, is monitoring and supervising actions at the scene and also relies on a Disaster Response Management and Evaluation Committee. The Committee is responsible for monitoring the procedures adopted to meet the demands of the population, monitoring recovery and reconstruction measures, and coordinating and monitoring the work of federal agencies and public entities.

State of Public Calamity

The Ministry of Regional Development (MDR), through the National Secretariat of Civil Defense (Sedec), declared a state of public calamity in Brumadinho on Saturday (26). This happens, according to the MDR, when events of great intensity and impact generate abnormal situations that "cause damages and

losses" and compromise response (i.e. relief and assistance) capacity and the reestablishment of essential services.

President flies over location of the tragedy

On Saturday (26) morning, President Jair Bolsonaro flew over the region hit by the collapse of the Córrego Feijão dam. After the flyby, he met with representatives of the state and municipal governments and the leaders of the teams working in the impacted areas. The meeting was attended by the Ministers of the Environment (Ricardo Salles), Regional Development (Gustavo Canuto) and Mines and Energy (Bento Lima), in addition to the Minister of the Institutional Security Office (Augusto Heleno) and the Prosecutor General of the Republic (Raquel Dodge).

Government monitors possibility of new disasters

The areas around the mining complex in Brumadinho are being checked to identify potential threats, according to Environment Minister Ricardo Salles. Sedec has set up an operations station to support the work of federal teams near the areas dedicated for aircraft landing and first aid. The goal is to closely monitor and support the searches, in addition to centralizing all actions carried out by the federal government in one place.

Vale is fined R$ 250 million by IBAMA

The Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) has issued R$ 250 million in fines against mining company Vale, responsible for the socio-environmental catastrophe. In total, five notices of assessment were issued in the amount of R$ 50 million each.

Vale has been fined for causing pollution that could result in harm to human health; rendering an urban or rural area unfit for human occupation; causing water pollution that necessitates the interruption of water supply; causing the perishing of biodiversity specimens due to the emission of effluents or loading of materials; and launching mining tailings in water sources.

Vale is a repeat offender and may suffer new sanctions

The Attorney General of the Republic, André Mendonça, said that mining company Vale could suffer civil, administrative and criminal sanctions after the technical bodies involved complete their surveys and investigations of the accident.

According to Mendonça, the accountability measures taken can't follow the same parameters as those adopted in 2015, when a similar disaster in Mariana (MG) led to 19 deaths. "It's a repeat offense. The number of missing persons indicates that the number of victims is much higher,” he explained.

Israel supports search for victims

Humanitarian aid and professional resources sent by the Israeli government to aid the search for victims arrived in Brazil on Sunday (27) evening. The details of the support action were agreed on Saturday (26) by telephone between the Brazilian president and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Two hotlines offer special services

The Disque 100 and Ligue 180, two hotlines created to receive information and complaints about human rights violations, are now offering special services to the victims of the disaster in Brumadinho. The numbers are toll-free and requests will be forwarded to the competent bodies for immediate action, especially in distress situations.

Minister says new inspections are needed

The Chief Minister of the Institutional Security Office, Augusto Heleno, said that the ministerial council that accompanies the situation in Brumadinho concluded that it is "important and urgent" that dams in Brazil with a greater risk of collapse or tailings leakage are submitted to new inspections.

Heleno also reported on behalf of the ministerial council that there is no need to send humanitarian aid and that the municipal and state governments are managing to meet the needs and demands of the population at the moment. The state government of Minas Gerais has reassured citizen that water supply was not affected by the accident.

Caixa extends working hours

As of next Tuesday (29), public bank Caixa will send its “truck branch” to improve banking services in Brumadinho. The bank will also open an account so Brazilians from all over the country can send aid to those affected by the tragedy. The checking account number, opened on behalf of the Civil Defense, will be published on Monday (January 28).

The Caixa branch in the municipality will open one hour earlier and close an hour later on Monday (January 28) to improve services.