The size of the challenge
Read about the extent of the impact, the diverse nature of the affected regions and the key solutions that we must put in place together with society:
Register and indemnify all those who were affected
Encourage increased participation by communities in decision-making and communicate efficiently with the society as a whole.
Approve projects, obtain licenses and put in place resettlement efforts.Currently those persons who lost their homes are living provisionally in shelters chosen by them
Address ensuing physical and mental health issues by those persons affected by the collapse
Re-establish conditions to resume social and economic activities along the river
Encourage dialogue and create an action plan together with the local population
Create a solution for 39.2 million m³ of tailings that overflowed from the Samarco property
Mitigate the impact of 18.9 million m3 of tailings that flowed downstream from the Candonga dam along 537 kilometres to the mouth of the Doce river. Implement a permanent solution to contain these tailings
Organize an integrated plan for treating water and basic sanitation in the affected municipalities
Define a method and start implementing a forestry restoration process
Plan the destinations of 1006 small and large animals rescued
Develop and implement a detailed social and environmental recovery plan for:
650 kilometers of affected area between the States of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo
Roughly 15,000 families directly impacted
Roughly 15,000 families directly impacted
40 municipalities affected
737 individuals initially estimated to have lost their homes in Bento Rodrigues, Paracatu and Gesteira
Three regions with different impacts
The dam’s collapse gve rise to different impacts in each region. See how inhabitants felt the consequences of the advancing sludge along each stretch:
THE DAM'S SURROUNDINGS
There are small directly affected communities during the first 113 kilometres down to the Risoleta Neves Hydroelectric plant. Some were destroyed in part or in whole, such as Bento Rodrigues and Paracatu de Baixo (districts of Mariana) and the municipality of Barra Longa (district of Gesteira). Families had to be removed from these locations, productive activity was very much affected and there was great need for support.
THE REGION OF THE DOCE RIVER IN MINAS GERAIS
This is the largest region affected, with almost 400 kilometres, and very populated towns such as Governador Valadares (263,000 inhabitants), Ipatinga (240,000), Caratinga (85,000) and Timóteo (81,000). Water supply was endangered in this area and economic activities related to the river came to a standstill. The impact was greater among fishermen, farmers, sand and gravel extractors, tradesmen and those involved in tourist activities.
THE DOCE RIVER REGION IN ESPÍRITO SANTO
There are fewer towns in this last stretch of 150 kilometres, but generally more populated, with towns such as Linhares (141,000) and Colatina (111,000). The effects were restricted to the downturn in economic activities by fishermen, subsistence farmers, and workers in tourist activities.