"Brumadinho, seven years later", 26 January 2026

...On January 25, 2019, the collapse of a tailings dam at Vale S.A.’s Córrego do Feijão mine in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, resulted in 272 fatalities. The majority were workers—employees of Vale and its contractors—caught in one of the deadliest workplace tragedies in recent history....

Millions of cubic meters of toxic mining waste threatened homes, farmland, and infrastructure, contaminating the Rio Paraopeba and endangering water supplies for many downstream communities. For many locals, the aftermath of Brumadinho has meant ongoing health concerns, disrupted livelihoods, and a persistent struggle for justice and fair reparations...

Investigations by Repórter Brasil in late 2025 reveal fears among residents of Jangada about the restart and expansion of mining at the Jangada Mine, located within the same complex as Córrego do Feijão. This mine is now operated by Itaminas Mineração S.A., under a concession formerly held by Vale. Locals worry that renewed activity could deplete and contaminate vital springs and groundwater, essential for drinking, farming, and daily life, risking health, food security, and potentially displacing entire communities...

Reports show the Jangada community has already asked the Ministério Público to permanently shut down the mining complex...

Meanwhile, concerns are growing about the integrity of environmental regulation in Minas Gerais. Another investigation by Repórter Brasil in October 2025 highlights fears of regulatory capture...

These local issues are part of a larger global picture. Research highlighted by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre shows Brazil, as a key producer of “transition minerals,” faces growing pressure to expand mining to meet global energy transition needs. Without strong safeguards, transparency, and respect for human rights, this expansion risks repeating patterns of environmental harm, labor exploitation, and community displacement that caused tragedies like Brumadinho...