Minas Gerais state prosecutors have filed a public lawsuit demanding Vale pay residents of Barao de Cocais moral and material damages.
State prosecutors requested a local court to order Vale to pay BRL 2 billion ($507.8 million) for collective moral damages, as well as BRL 300,000 ($76,100) for individual moral damages for those with businesses or assets near the Gongo Soco mine.
The Gongo Soco mine was halted due to risk of a collapse. Prosecutors said the city’s population of 30,000 had its life severely affected by the risky dam at the Gongo Soco mine. Vale had to evacuate people near the Sul Superior and Sul Inferior dams at its Gongo Soco mine, and many have yet to return to their homes due the risk of a collapse, prosecutors said.
USD = BRL 3.94 (May 3)