An unstable mound in Gongo Soco’s mine in Brazil, owned by Vale SA, has less risk than previously thought and will collapse in such a way that it destabilizes the nearby Sul Superior dam, a mining company said on Tuesday.
Last week, the Minas Gerais environmental officer estimated the 10–15% probability of losing the integrity of the Sul Superior dam due to aftershocks from an expected landslide in a mine. This led to the fact that the nearby town of Barao de Kokais is on high alert: officials are conducting an evacuation exercise to avoid a repetition of the tragedy at a distance of about 40 miles (64 km), where the Weir dam broke in January, freeing the flow of mud who killed over 240 people.
