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Global Mining Firm Liable for Brazil's Worst Environmental Disaster
14 Nov
Summary
- London judge rules BHP Group liable for 2015 dam collapse in Brazil
- Disaster killed 19, devastated villages, and caused massive environmental damage
- About 600,000 Brazilians seeking £36 billion ($47 billion) in compensation
On November 14, 2025, a London judge ruled that the global mining company BHP Group is liable for Brazil's worst environmental disaster, which occurred a decade ago. In 2015, a dam collapse at an iron ore mine operated by Samarco, a joint venture between BHP and Brazilian mining firm Vale, unleashed tons of toxic waste into the Doce River, killing 19 people and devastating nearby villages.
The disaster also killed 14 tons of freshwater fish and damaged 600 miles of the Doce River, which the Krenak Indigenous people revere as a deity. The river has yet to fully recover. In the aftermath, about 600,000 Brazilians have filed a £36 billion ($47 billion) compensation claim against BHP.
While BHP did not own the dam at the time, the judge determined the company was still responsible. This ruling comes just days before the Brazilian government reached a separate multibillion-dollar settlement with the mining companies involved. The ongoing legal proceedings aim to hold BHP accountable and provide relief to the affected communities.
