BHP Liable Over Brazil Dam Collapse, UK Court Rules

Property destroyed by flooding following the collapse of the Fundao dam in Brazil, in 2015.

Photographer: Douglas Magno/AFP/Getty Images

BHP Group Ltd. is liable to compensate hundreds of thousands of victims of a devastating dam collapse in Brazil, a London judge ruled, moving closer to a potential multi-billion dollar payout a decade after the disaster.

About 620,000 Brazilians are seeking more than £36 billion ($47.4 billion) through British courts for the collapse of Fundão Dam at an iron ore joint venture between Vale SA and BHP a decade ago. The metals producers signed a $30 billion settlement on the disaster with Brazil in October last year.