Brazilian miner and iron ore producer Vale said on Wednesday it has evacuated 50 people near its Forquilha I, II, III and IV dams, as well at its Grupo dam, which are all located at the company’s Paraopeba complex.
Vale said it removed the families as a “precautionary” measure, assuming an extreme scenario in which the Grupo and Forquilha dams would “collapse.” However, the company said it found no recent anomalies at the dams.
Vale said it will aid the displaced families, as part of an agreement with Minas Gerais state prosecutors.
According to the Brazilian Mining Agency (ANM), all five Vale dams did not issue a stability certificate since September 2019. The certificate attests the safety of a dam.