"Petrochemical giant’s salt mine ruptures in northeastern Brazil. Officials warn of collapse", 10 December 2023

...A mine belonging to Brazilian petrochemical giant Braskem ruptured Sunday in the northeastern coastal city of Maceio, the city’s civil defense authority said...

The area had previously been evacuated and there were was no risk to any people, it said in a statement. A press officer said officials were still assessing the rupture and would soon provide further information.

...Braskem‘s 40 years of rock salt mining in Maceio has prompted the displacement of tens of thousands of people, hollowing out communities, and on Nov. 28 the company alerted authorities of the imminent risk the mine would collapse. Land around the mine has been steadily sinking ever since, falling a total of 7.7 feet as of Sunday morning...

...[F]ive neighborhoods have turned into ghost towns...According to the Brazilian Senate’s website, some 200,000 people in Maceio were affected by the company’s mining activities...

Aside from mine 18, which ruptured Sunday, Braskem says it is in the process of filling eight other cavities with sand...