Mariana tragedy trial begins in the UK
A British court will decide whether Anglo-Australian mining company BHP Billiton is responsible for the dam collapse tragedy in Mariana, Minas Gerais state, in 2015. The trial will begin Monday (Oct. 21) and is expected to last until March 5 next year. The dam belonged to Samarco, a joint venture between BHP Brasil and Vale.In the incident, an avalanche of ore tailings reached the Doce river basin, impacting dozens of municipalities in the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo. Nineteen people died.Law firm Pogust Goodhead (PG) is representing 620 thousand people, 46 municipalities, and 1,500 companies affected by the collapse before the Technology and Construction Court in London.The firm argues that BHP Billiton should be held accountable, since it was Samarco’s controlling sha...