A report by MPMG, a body of public prosecutors in the state of Minas Gerais, said leak repairs at Samarco’s Fundao dam, along with capacity increase works, caused the collapse of the company’s iron ore waste dam in November last year.
According to MPMG, Samarco has performed a “recede in the dam’s face” in 2013, so it could repair the dam’s galleries that were presenting leak issues.
Samarco then performed “heightening” works in the dam to expand its capacity, destabilizing its structure. The recede wasn’t foreseen in the dam’s original project, according to the report from MPMG, which was made in partnership with Geomecânica and the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI).
According to MPMG’s report, since its operation in 2008, the dam presented constant occurrences of leakages, besides other varied drainage problems. A report from Brazil’s federal police also said the capacity increase works caused the collapse of the dam.
Additionally, Samarco has started dismissing workers. A media report said some 250 employees have already joined a voluntary dismissal program.