The Public Ministry of Minas Gerais (MPMG) requested emergency measures from the Minas Gerais court against the company Jaguar Mining for the tailings landslide that occurred last Saturday (7), at the Turmalina Mine located in Conceição do Pará (MG).
Prosecutors filed a lawsuit against the company, requesting “the immediate suspension of the operation of all structures of the enterprise, guarantee of security measures, in addition to the evacuation and communication plan for the community, as well as the blocking of valuables in the amount of R$200 million”.
The slope slide of the waste rock and mining waste disposal pile (Satinoco Pile) occurred on Saturday (7).
According to the MPMG, the wave of waste reached part of the structure used by the company in mining activities, causing serious socio-environmental damage, and also traveled approximately 250 meters until it reached the area of the rural community of Casquilho.
There were 105 homes affected and closed. In total, 134 people from the community had to leave their homes.
After the incident, a technical team from the Center for Combating Environmental Crimes (Nucrim) was at the scene accompanied by members of the Public Ministry of Minas Gerais, the Military Environmental Police and the Fire Department.
All teams confirmed the serious socio-environmental and socioeconomic damage caused by the rupture of the tailings pile.
Among the requests made in the MPMG action are:
- Communication plan about the safety conditions of the site for the entire surrounding community.
- Emergency measures plan for the evacuated population, including accommodation, food, medicines and transportation, taking into account the characteristics of each individual and family.
- Payment of immediate emergency aid in the amount of R$10,000 for each family unit that was removed from their property, as well as monthly amounts for the duration of the evacuation.
- Blocking of amounts worth R$200 million reais.
In addition to the Public Civil Action, the Public Ministry of Minas Gerais established, this Monday (9), a criminal investigation procedure “to investigate possible criminal repercussions arising from the rupture of the waste pile and the possible practice, in theory, of crimes provided for in articles 38-A and 54 of Federal Law nº 9,605/98 and 256 of the Penal Code”.
THE CNN contacted Jaguar Mining about the MPMG action and is awaiting feedback.
Regarding the landslide of the waste pile, the company expressed its opinion in a statement. See the full text:
“Jaguar Mining informs that a Unified Operations Command was created to act in the emergency and reduce the impacts caused by the displacement of the waste/sterile pile at the Turmalina Unit (MTL), in Conceição do Pará (MG), which occurred in on 12/07/2024. The causes of the landslide are being investigated.
The group is made up of members of the company, Military Fire Department, Military Police, Municipal Civil Defense, State Civil Defense and representatives of the Municipal Executive Branch and is working on several fronts, all supported by teams, machinery and resources made available by Jaguar.
For safety reasons, the village of Casquilho de Cima had to be evacuated and access to the community is not authorized by the Unified Operations Command for an indefinite period. Jaguar Mining assigned several teams to assist residents who had to leave their homes. They were installed in hotels in the region and are being monitored by the company. In total, 134 people, from 47 families, had to leave their homes. 119 properties were vacated, seven of which were affected by the displacement of waste/sterile.
Jaguar also informs that it works with partner companies to rescue the village’s animals. To date, 191 have been registered. Of these, 148 were returned to their owners and taken to locations chosen by their owners. Four were sheltered in a veterinary clinic and 39 remain in the field for safety reasons. The latter are being monitored and are under the care of partners.
Jaguar Mining deeply regrets what happened and continues to provide assistance to the community.”
This content was originally published in MPMG calls for blocking of R$200 million from mining company after tailings landslide on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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