BHP has been found legally liable for the collapse of a Brazilian dam which killed 19 people and contaminated vast swathes of rainforest.
The High Court in London yesterday ruled that the Anglo-Australian mining giant was ‘strictly liable for damage caused’ by the ‘foreseeable’ Mariana dam collapse in 2015.
The decision means BHP could potentially be forced to pay tens of billions of pounds in compensation to more than 620,000 alleged victims of the disaster.
When the dam burst, it released sludge which swamped villages and contaminated hundreds of miles of waterways. It is considered the worst environmental catastrophe in Brazil’s history.
Compensation: The decision means BHP could potentially be forced to pay tens of billions of pounds
Lawyers acting for the victims in the class action lawsuit – the largest of its kind in English legal history – are seeking up to £36billion.
Another High Court trial to decide the amount of damages payable is scheduled for October next year.
BHP said it would appeal the decision and ‘continue to defend against the UK group action’.
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