A new report based on satellite images and other historical data on Rio Tinto's former Panguna mine allege that (1) a levee that contains tailings is almost certain to collapse, posing a threat to about 20,000 people living within the risk zone, and (2) tailings have built up downstream causing the river bed to rise, diverse, and flow out to new areas, which may cause flooding.

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Rio Tinto to respond to the allegations. The company's response is linked below.