World

Actions

Death Toll In Brazilian Mine Collapse Continues To Rise

Officials said Sunday the number of confirmed deaths rose from 37 to 58. And hundreds of people are still missing in the muddy debris.
Posted at 9:58 AM, Jan 28, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-28 09:58:52-05

The death toll in a massive dam collapse in Brazil continues to rise as emergency workers search for any survivors.

Officials said Sunday the number of confirmed deaths rose from 37 to 58. And hundreds of people are still missing in the muddy debris.

Authorities were forced to halt rescue operations and start evacuations earlier Sunday when a second dam threatened to collapse. But the dam was later found to be secure, and recovery efforts resumed soon after.

The dam, which is owned by Brazil's Vale mining company, burst on Friday, unleashing a powerful flood of muddy waste around the area.

The National Mining Agency in Brazil has ordered Vale to halt operations at the mining facility where the rupture took place. Prosecutors are also in the process of freezing over $1 billion in the company's accounts to pay for damage related to the disaster.

Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.