Brazil's mining tragedy: was it a preventable disaster?

As the 'sea of mud' continues its path of destruction, allegations have surfaced that the dam collapse was a result of government and industry negligence

The recent collapse of a mining dam in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais is one of the biggest environmental disasters in the country's history. Apocalyptic images of communities swallowed by mud and a river flooded by mining waste have shocked a population that has become hardened to tragedy.

Between 40-62m cubic metres of the water and sediment from iron ore extraction sluiced down a mountainside more than two weeks ago when the Fundio tailings dam failed at an open-cast mine operated by Samarco, a joint venture between mining giants BHP Billiton and Vale.