Since the warning sirens rang in the town of São Sebastião das Águas Claras three years ago, in the wake of Vale's dam collapse in nearby Brumadinho, hundreds of people have been forced to evacuate their businesses and homes located in the flood risk zones, where signs signaling escape routes and meeting points have been installed by mining company Vale.
An abandoned home located in the flood risk zone of the town São Sebastião das Águas Claras, Minas Gerais remains covered in mud after recent floods in the region, on January 23, 2022.
Sandra Ribeiro, 48, stands in the small chapel she and her husband built in their yard for their community after the dam collapse in Brumadinho, in São Sebastião das Águas Claras, Minas Gerais, on January 23, 2022.
A family’s abandoned home and business in São Sebastião das Águas Claras, Minas Gerais, after recent flooding in the region.
After the disaster in Brumadinho, mining company Vale built a contention dam in front of Sandra Ribeiro’s home in São Sebastião das Águas Claras, Minas Gerais, which in the case of the collapse of the tailings dam up stream, is intended to prevent the mineral waste from reaching the state’s capital. Locals blame the dam for causing recent flooding in the town, which left many stranded and without electricity for days.
An abandoned hotel after flooding in São Sebastião das Águas Claras, Minas Gerais.
Community leader Leonardo Tolentino observes maps indicating the flood risk zones of the mines surrounding the town, at his home in São Sebastião das Águas Claras, Minas Gerais.
Community leader Leonardo Tolentino shows maps indicating the flood risk zones of the mines surrounding the town, at his home in São Sebastião das Águas Claras, Minas Gerais.
Operations do decommission Vale's waste mine dam located upstream of the town São Sebastião das Águas Claras are underway since the mine's emergency level was raised to three, signaling imminent risk of collapse, in Nova Lima, Minas Gerais.
Hotel owner Beat Willi, 64, awaits visitors to arrive for lunch at his restaurant in São Sebastião das Águas Claras, Minas Gerais. Known for it's natural attractions, São Sebastião das Águas Claras depends on tourism from nearby cities such as the state's capital city, Belo Horizonte, as well as other states, although since the dam collapse and onset of the pandemic, bookings have plummeted. Many hotel owners are still fighting mining company Vale for compensation.
Weekend tourists ride motocross bikes on a trail in São Sebastião das Águas Claras, where tourism sustains the local economy. Bookings and visitations have plummeted since Vale’s dam collapse three years ago and the pandemic.
Brumadinho was a town where everybody knew each other. Now it is a place where everybody knows someone who died in the mining tragedy. After recent rains and the overflowing of the Paraopeba River that runs through the city, many residents in Brumadinho were once again forced to evacuate their homes.
Avelino Oliveira Junior, 88, returns to his home to clean up after having to evacuate with his family due to recent flooding in the region in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais on January 24, 2022.
Residents prepare for events in remembrance of the lives of the victims killed three years ago by Vale's dam collapse in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais.
After heavy flooding in recent weeks, contaminated water flows through the rivers and streams near São Sebastião das Águas Claras, Minas Gerais, located downstream of several waste mine dams considered high risk. “We’re living on top of ticking time bombs”.