UK Judge Rules BHP Group Liable in Brazil's Worst Environmental Disaster
A UK court has delivered a damning verdict in one of Brazil's most devastating environmental disasters, finding BHP Group, a global mining giant, liable for the catastrophe. In 2015, a dam burst at Samarco, the Brazilian company where BHP owns half of, releasing millions of tons of toxic waste into the Doce River, killing 19 people and leaving thousands homeless.
The disaster also had catastrophic consequences on the environment, with sludge from the dam destroying the village of Bento Rodrigues in Minas Gerais state and badly damaging other towns. Freshwater fish populations were decimated, with 14 tonnes of fish killed, while over 600km of the Doce River was polluted.
In a ruling that sent shockwaves through the mining industry, High Court Justice Finola O'Farrell found BHP responsible despite not owning the dam at the time of its collapse. The judge stated that continuing to raise the height of the dam when it was deemed unsafe was the "direct and immediate cause" of the disaster.
The ruling is a significant blow to BHP, which has repeatedly denied liability in the case. The company has already paid billions of dollars in compensation to Brazilian residents affected by the disaster, but the UK court's decision means that BHP will have to face further lawsuits and potentially face financial penalties.
BHP has vowed to appeal against the ruling, arguing that the UK legal action was unnecessary and duplicated matters covered by existing proceedings in Brazil. However, the company faces growing scrutiny over its environmental record, particularly following this high-profile case.
A UK court has delivered a damning verdict in one of Brazil's most devastating environmental disasters, finding BHP Group, a global mining giant, liable for the catastrophe. In 2015, a dam burst at Samarco, the Brazilian company where BHP owns half of, releasing millions of tons of toxic waste into the Doce River, killing 19 people and leaving thousands homeless.
The disaster also had catastrophic consequences on the environment, with sludge from the dam destroying the village of Bento Rodrigues in Minas Gerais state and badly damaging other towns. Freshwater fish populations were decimated, with 14 tonnes of fish killed, while over 600km of the Doce River was polluted.
In a ruling that sent shockwaves through the mining industry, High Court Justice Finola O'Farrell found BHP responsible despite not owning the dam at the time of its collapse. The judge stated that continuing to raise the height of the dam when it was deemed unsafe was the "direct and immediate cause" of the disaster.
The ruling is a significant blow to BHP, which has repeatedly denied liability in the case. The company has already paid billions of dollars in compensation to Brazilian residents affected by the disaster, but the UK court's decision means that BHP will have to face further lawsuits and potentially face financial penalties.
BHP has vowed to appeal against the ruling, arguing that the UK legal action was unnecessary and duplicated matters covered by existing proceedings in Brazil. However, the company faces growing scrutiny over its environmental record, particularly following this high-profile case.
just saw that a UK judge ruled BHP Group responsible for one of Brazil's worst enviro disasters 
! I mean, can you even believe it? They're not even the full owner of the dam, but they get stuck with liability anyway 
. It's like, what even is the point of having laws if corporations can just game them like this? 
. They've already been paying out big bucks in Brazil, so it's not like they weren't warned 
. Now, I know some people might say that the UK court's decision is a win for the environment and all that 
, but let's be real – this just sets a bad precedent for other companies to follow 
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. And yeah, it's probably going to lead to more lawsuits and whatnot. But still...it's just so frustrating when these giant corporations think they're above the law 
.
It's like, I get it, accidents happen but this level of recklessness is just insane. And to think that BHP is trying to appeal against this ruling... it's like they're not taking responsibility for their actions at all. 
The company needs to step up their game when it comes to environmental safety and stop trying to sweep things under the rug. 
. This ruling is like a wake-up call for them to take responsibility for the destruction they've caused in Brazil 
. This could be a turning point for the mining industry to prioritize safety over profits 
the environmental damage is still felt today, its a shame bhp got off scot free or at least partially until now anywho hope they pay up this time 
BHP needs to take responsibility for their actions and not just slap some money on the table. The environment suffers, people suffer... it's time for them to step up and make it right. 
. I'm no expert on mining or law, but it seems like common sense to me that if you know something's gonna happen and you can prevent it, you should do so 
just saw this news and I'm FUMING!! like how can a company be held accountable for one of the worst environmental disasters EVER?! 
this ruling is a game-changer for holding polluters accountable and i'm loving every minute of it 
And now we're paying for it with a court ruling that's like the ultimate dumping ground – BHP's got to take a hit, but I mean who knew the UK was the dumping ground for Brazilian environmental disasters?