Brazilian miner and iron ore producer Vale evacuated late last week 200 people near its Mar Azul mine, which is part of its Paraopeba’s operations in Nova Lima, Minas Gerais state, the company said. Vale said the evacuation of local residents near the B3/B4 iron ore waste dam was a “precautionary measure.”
The company followed a review by external consultants of the dam’s security level, which was raised from 1 to 2, in a scale from 1 to 3, in which level 3 indicates a dam will soon breach or is already bursting. Vale said moving people out of the mine’s vicinity will not affect production levels, as the B3/B3 dam at the Mar Azul mine is inactive
Vale helped accommodate people in local hotels and is providing transportation, food and basic needs items.