Scores of people trapped by sludge, 200 missing after Brazilian dam collapse

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Brazilian firefighters are searching for over 200 people missing after a dam at an iron ore mine collapsed. Scores of people were trapped by the river of sludge released when the dam failed.

The dam, owned by mining firm Vale SA, partially collapsed on Friday, sending torrents of mud and sludge into the forest and villages below. The effluent washed away roads and destroyed buildings in its path.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro expressed condolences, and announced that the Ministers of Regional Development and Mines and Energy, as well as the countryโ€™s Civil Defense chief have been sent to the area.

The dam is operated by the same company that oversaw another dam in the same state of Minas Gerais that suffered catastrophic failure in 2015. The worst environmental disaster in Brazilโ€™s history, the incident flooded the river below with toxic iron waste, killing at least 17 people and displacing hundreds more.

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Chief Assignment editor is Oleg Siziakov

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