The Stream, November 6: Brazil Mine Dam Bursts, Unleashing Deadly Mudslide

The Global Rundown

A tailings dam at an iron ore mine in Brazil burst, sending a mudslide into surrounding communities. The United Nations Green Climate Fund announced its first round of projects. Low water levels on the Rhine River are still inhibiting fuel shipments to Switzerland. Flint, Michigan is at risk of continued lead contamination due to disturbances to the city’s water system, a report found.

“It’s a matter of going to church every night and lighting a candle to hope that we will get some rain. We’re getting to the stage where some barges cannot sail up the Rhine any more because the draft is too big and the water level is not sufficient.”–Joachim Hessler, general manager of a German shipping company, on low water levels that are inhibiting the transport of critical fuel supplies to Switzerland. (Bloomberg)

By The Numbers

600 people Number evacuated from communities near Mariana, Brazil, after a tailings dam at a nearby iron ore mine burst and sent mud cascading into the area. Reuters

Science, Studies, And Reports

Even homes in Flint, Michigan, that do not have lead drinking water pipes could be at risk of lead contamination when work is done on other portions of the city’s water distribution network, according to a report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The report said disturbances to the system could create an “acute health hazard” for residents. Flint Journal

On The Radar

Eight projects have been awarded funding in the first round of financing from the United Nations’ Green Climate Fund, which is meant to help poor countries adapt to climate change. One of the projects approved is a $23.6 million initiative to manage water shortages in the Maldives. Reuters

Codi Kozacek

A news correspondent for Circle of Blue based out of Hawaii. She writes The Stream, Circle of Blue’s daily digest of international water news trends. Her interests include food security, ecology and the Great Lakes.
Contact Codi Kozacek