Mariana dam collapse victims speak out as London trial begins

“The very last thing I heard him say was, ‘Have you learnt you are the perfect mother on the earth?'”

Gelvana Rodrigues’ son Thiago died when poisonous mud poured into their dwelling when he was seven.

He was one among 19 individuals who died when the Mariana Dam collapsed within the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais on November 5, 2015.

It’s thought-about Brazil’s worst environmental catastrophe ever.

The dam is owned by Samarco, a three way partnership between mining giants Vale and BHP Billiton.

It’s used to retailer waste from iron ore mining. When it exploded, it launched tens of hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of poisonous waste and soil.

Sludge swept by way of communities, destroying lots of of houses and polluting rivers.

Galwana was at work when the catastrophe struck, whereas her son stayed at dwelling together with his grandmother.

When she heard the information, she ran again and located “every part was ruined.”

“I did not eat or sleep for 3 days and simply wished to search out my son,” she stated.

Seven days later, she heard that rescuers had discovered Thiago’s physique.

“My life ended that day as a result of I lived for him.”

Gelvana is one among 620,000 individuals who have taken BHP to British courts over the catastrophe.

A civil trial beginning in London on October 21 will decide whether or not the Anglo-Australian firm is accountable.

The claimants’ attorneys efficiently argued that the trial ought to be held in London as a result of BHP’s headquarters “had been positioned within the UK on the time of the dam failure”.

If BHP loses, it’s going to enter a second stage to find out who’s entitled to additional damages and the way a lot.

A separate trial towards Samarco’s second dad or mum, Brazilian mining firm Vale, is underway within the Netherlands and has about 70,000 plaintiffs.

Each corporations have agreed to share the prices if both is discovered answerable for damages.

In 1969, Marcos Muniz, often known as Marquinhos, moved to Bento Rodrigues, one of many cities affected by the catastrophe, when he was six years previous, to the home the place his father was born. home. Later, as an grownup, he constructed his personal home on extra land his father bought there.

Marquinhos labored for Samarco for practically 30 years earlier than retiring. He has livestock, pigs and orange timber, which he seems ahead to caring for in retirement.

“I by no means thought this could occur,” he stated. “If I had recognized that this could occur sooner or later and that the place and group the place I grew up can be destroyed, I’d undoubtedly cease working there.”

Bento Rodriguez is sort of a ghost city proper now. The home is in ruins, nonetheless coated in thick mud. Marquinhos’ home was swept into a close-by lake and solely the nook of it could actually now be seen.

BHP and Vale have arrange a corporation known as the Renova Basis to compensate victims.

It’s going to both supply them money compensation or a home in a brand new metropolis constructed by the inspiration to switch the city, known as Nuevo Bento.

The Renova Basis stated it has up to now paid out greater than $7.7bn (£5.9bn) in restore and compensation prices to greater than 445,000 folks, with round 50% of that paid on to these affected.

However the corporations stated that didn’t imply they accepted duty for the catastrophe.

Communities have a say in the place cities are constructed and the way new houses are designed.

Marquinhos acquired a home there however fears his way of life and group can be misplaced within the fashionable metropolis.

The brand new city continues to be below building. It is on a hill moderately than on a lake and has a extra fashionable, city really feel.

Darliza das Graças moved there a 12 months in the past. She owned a small bar in “Previous” Bento Rodriguez and now runs a restaurant.

“Life right here is gorgeous, excellent. However it was very troublesome at first, there have been only a few residents,” she stated.

“Now that they are right here, issues are a lot better.”

To this point, greater than 100 folks have been resettled there, however 9 years on, some nonetheless have not moved in as a result of their houses aren’t prepared or as a result of they’ve chosen to not transfer in.

Though Daliza is pleased right here, she stated she most well-liked her previous life as a result of “the group was extra united.” Not everybody from her unique neighborhood chooses to dwell right here.

BHP and Vale deny all claims of legal responsibility and argue that the UK authorized motion is “unwarranted because it duplicates the prevailing and ongoing work of the Renova Basis and issues already coated by different authorized proceedings in Brazil”.

All corporations concerned stated they remained “dedicated” to repairing the harm prompted. BHP Billiton and Vale have proposed a brand new compensation bundle to the Brazilian authorities, anticipated to be signed on Friday, paying greater than 170 billion reais ($45 billion) in compensation.

Samarco added that the Renova Basis had compensated 18 of the 19 households of the victims and continued to contact households and attorneys in unresolved instances.

Fernanda Lavarello, BHP’s head of company affairs in Brazil, stated: “What occurred in 2015 was a tragedy. We’re sorry for what occurred. Since then, BHP has not given up on this The nation is making each effort to restore the setting and lives of those households.

“Among the course of took longer than anticipated as a result of it was fairly advanced, however for these households who selected to construct right here shortly, their houses had been prepared and folks had been transferring in.”

The authorized proceedings towards BHP within the UK started in 2018, when residents, some native corporations and authorities determined to hunt what their attorneys known as “honest and full compensation” for the losses that they had suffered.

Pogust Goodhead, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, argued that BHP was liable as a result of Samarco is “the authorized entity for iron ore manufacturing and BHP controls the corporate and its selections operationally”. This implies BHP knew or ought to have recognized when it made the vital selections that led to the dam’s collapse.

In the event that they win, they anticipate damages may attain $44bn (£34bn) in what has been described as one of many world’s largest collective environmental lawsuits.

For some, like Marquinhos, it is about attempting to get extra compensation than what was beforehand provided in order that he can afford to rebuild his life in a spot of his selecting.

For some, no sum of money could make up for his or her losses.

“Nothing can save a life,” Galvana stated of her son Thiago. “No sum of money on the earth can purchase life. I simply need justice in order that no mom will sit in the identical place as me.