Brazil's Federal Police Charge 20 Individuals Over Salt Mine Disaster

Brazil's federal police have indicted 20 individuals in connection with a disastrous rock salt mining operation in the northeastern coastal city of Maceio, which led to the destruction of five urban neighborhoods and forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate their homes.

The charges filed include damage to public property and various environmental offenses. According to a police source who requested anonymity, the indicted individuals are either employees or contractors of Braskem, one of the largest petrochemical companies in the Americas.

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Braskem, primarily owned by the state-run oil company Petrobras and construction giant Novonor (formerly Odebrecht), has been conducting rock salt mining in the Maceio area for over 40 years. The company has been under investigation since the neighborhoods began experiencing catastrophic collapses in 2018.

In response to the indictments, Braskem issued a statement indicating that it had not yet fully reviewed the police report and, therefore, would refrain from commenting on the individuals linked to the company. The firm emphasized its commitment to cooperating with the investigation and stated that it has consistently adhered to industry laws and regulations, maintaining open communication with relevant authorities.

Rock salt mining involves extracting salt from deep underground deposits. However, the process creates brine-filled cavities as salt is removed, which can eventually collapse, leading to soil subsidence. Buildings and infrastructure situated atop these weakened areas are at risk of collapsing.

According to the website of the Brazil Senate, the excessive extraction of rock salt has impacted approximately 200,000 residents in the Alagoas state capital of Maceio, highlighting the extensive consequences of the mining activities on local communities.