A Minas Gerais state court has issued several arrest warrants for Vale executives, following the Feijão iron ore dam burst, which killed thus far 84 people. The death toll is expected to rise, as hundreds are still missing.
The arrest warrants were issued by the local court following a joint request by state and federal prosecutors, and the Brazilian federal police. Arrests have already been made at the Brumadinho site and at a second company location in São Paulo city.
A media report said the arrested Vale executives include: geologist Cesar Augusto Paulino Grandchamp; Ricardo de Oliveira, environmental manager for Vale’s Southeast system; and Rodrigo Artur Gomes de Melo, Vale’s executive manager for the Paraopeba complex,.
Makoto Namba and André Yassuda, from TÜV SÜD, which provides testing, certification, auditing and advisory services, were also arrested.
The arrests are considered “provisional” and will last 30 days, officials said. Both Vale’s and TÜV SÜD executives were held for further investigation in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais state.
Vale named on Tuesday Cláudio Alves as the company’s immediate response leader. Alves will lead a committee created for the sole purpose of managing emergency actions related to Brumadiho. Vale said officials are also collecting documents at a second Vale mine, named Mutucua, in Nova Lima, Minas Gerais state.