Brazil's Maceió on High Alert as Salt Mine Rupture Sparks Collapse Concerns

A rock salt mine in north-eastern Brazil is facing concerns of an imminent collapse after a rupture occurred, causing water from a nearby lagoon to enter the mine. Video footage captured by the civil defence authority shows murky water bubbling up in the Mundaú lagoon near the city of Maceió, where the mine is located. The mine, known as Mine 18, was operated by Brazilian petrochemical giant, Braskem, and has contributed to the displacement of tens of thousands of residents over the past four decades. Despite the rupture affecting an area measuring 60m in diameter, the mayor of Maceió has stated that there is currently no immediate threat to people as they have already been evacuated. However, residents are concerned about the accelerated sinking of the ground above the mine. The subsidence has measured a total of 2.35m between 30 November and 10 December. The city's problems with rock salt mining date back to 2018 when cracks began to appear in buildings and roads, leading to the evacuation of over 14,000 buildings and affecting around 60,000 people. In a federal study conducted in 2020, it was revealed that the cracks and soil subsidence were caused by Braskem's rock salt mining activities. The mining company, however, disputes these findings. Braskem closed its mines in Maceió in 2019 and reached a settlement worth $343 million with the city earlier this year for damages related to land subsidence and relocation. In light of warnings regarding the collapse of Mine 18, the municipal authorities have requested to negotiate a new compensation agreement with the company to cover additional damages.