After a level 2 alert this morning (27) at Dam VI of the Córrego do Feijão Mine, Vale's CEO, Fabio Schvartsman, today returned to Brumadinho (Minas Gerais, Brazil) to follow the support work being carried out for those affected by the breach of Dam I, which occurred last Friday.

The CEO flew back to the region of the accident early in the afternoon, and was at the Control Center at ASA College in Brumadinho. Vale’s CEO spoke to employees, volunteers, Civil Defense, Fire Service and the Military Police, as well as local authorities.

Around 15:00, the Civil Defense lowered the critical rating of Dam VI to level 1 – meaning that people who had left their homes were authorized by the Civil Defense to return and the searches for missing persons was resumed.

"It is Impossible to come here and not become emotional by the sadness of the situation and the superhuman efforts of all those assisting in this operation. For our part, Vale is putting everything it has available, all equipment and human resources, without limits," said the CEO.

On Saturday, a day after the breach, Fabio Schvartsman flew over the region and met with representatives of state and federal governments to evaluate the supporting measures of the rescue and the care of those affected and their families.

New safety standard
Fabio Schvartsman said in Brumadinho that Vale has created a working group that in the next few days will present a plan to raise the safety standard of the company's dams. The objective, according to him, is to overcome the most rigorous parameters that exist today in Brazil and in the world.

"It seems to me that there is only one solution: we have to go beyond any standard, national or international. We are going to create a safety mattress that is far superior to what we have today," said the executive.

Click on the link below to watch or download the full interview with Vale’s CEO in Brumadinho, in addition to images and the video of the flyover in the Córrego do Feijão region:

Click here to download the video of the flyover and the statement
Credits: Vale Archive