Brazil: Several Deaths Reported After Dam's Collapse

A dam belonging to Brazilian miner Vale, collapsed Friday in the southeastern Brumadinho region of Minas Gerais, the local fire department reported, citing witnesses.

Unconfirmed accounts indicate that there were deaths due to the collapse of the dam, firefighters said. The dam collapse poured out mud into the surrounding area and lead local residents to be evacuated, news website G1 reported.

The local fire department confirmed the dam break in Brumadinho near Belo Horizonte and told Reuters it has received unconfirmed reports of fatalities resulting from the incident. A Vale spokeswoman said that the company has not immediately confirmed media reports of the dam break.

The press department of the mining company Vale did not immediately confirm reports from the local press.