After the disastrous dam break in an iron ore mine in Brazil, the investigators want to bring those responsible for the disaster accountable. The office of the public Prosecutor of the state of Minas Gerias heard on Monday, several of the detained employees of mining group Vale. Investigators interested especially, when the managers and technicians aware of the poor condition of the dam had, reported the news portal G1.
Video: mud swept over avalanche the mine site
The dam at the Mine Córrego do Feijão was on 25. January broken. A mudslide rolled through parts of the facility and adjacent settlements near the town of Brumadinho and buried people, houses and animals. Overall, ergo around twelve million cubic metres of mud shot on an area of about 290 hectares. At least 169 people were killed in the accident killed and 141 more are still missing.
certificate issued
the disaster could have been possibly prevent. “This was no accident,” said William Garcia Pinto Coelho by the public Prosecutor of the state of Minas Gerais. Last year, the Munich-based company TÜV Süd (Technical monitoring Association) was examined on behalf of the mine operator Vale the dam twice, and apparently for the operation of necessary certificates issued.
“We have found evidence that very convincingly showed that it was an accident,” said investigator Coelho. “The employees of Vale and TÜV Süd had access to information demonstrating the critical condition of the dam. You have taken the risk of breakage, and thus, the death of hundreds of people.”
agreements
at least one examiner of the Brazilian subsidiary of TÜV Süd, to have been early concerns about the safety and stability of the dam logged in. However, the engineer didn’t feel pressured at all, the certificate to sign it, reported the newspaper “O Globo”, based on the interrogation protocols. Apparently, the man feared, TÜV Süd could lose Vale as a customer, when the company issued a security certificate.
“Spiegel Online” reported that internal E-Mails, in which the auditor expressed to colleagues his doubts. Apparently, they signed the certificate, subject to the condition that the Vale should make certain improvements. The Prosecutor saw even hints at collusion between Vale and the TÜV Süd. “It has been made effort, the Numbers do not add to turn in such a way that the critical Situation is reflected in a negative assessment of the stability of the dam,” said investigator Coelho.
The TÜV Süd did not want to comment on the allegations. “The questions relate to ongoing investigations against employees of one of our subsidiaries. We therefore ask for your understanding that we cannot comment on these investigations,” said the Munich-based company at the request of the DPA news Agency.
“Premeditated crime”
Vale boss Fabio Schvartsman language of an accident. “Vale is a Brazilian gem that should not be for an accident convicted,” he said recently at a hearing in Congress. The mining group have already paid money to the families of the victims and promised to support the investigators in their work. The devastating dam break is likely to have legal repercussions.
Only at the end of last week, the police arrested eight employees of Vale. “The representatives of the Vale insist that it was an accident, but the Prosecutor’s office and the police of Minas Gerais are convinced that we are dealing with a premeditated crime,” said Coelho. (sda)
Created: 18.02.2019, 21:54 PM
