BHP Billiton
(ASX:BHP) has provided an update to the market on the Samarco mine disaster in Brazil last month, confirming there have been 17 deaths and two people remaining unaccounted for.
BHP holds a 50 per cent interest in the Samarco Joint Venture, along with Brazilian mining giant Vale.
Legal proceedings have already been commenced against BHP and Vale, where the two companies were demanded to establish a $5.2 billion fund in aggregate.
The Federal Court has also imposed a number of interim injunctions on the miners in relation to exploration at Samarco.
BHP, Vale and Samarco have engaged a New York-based law firm to conduct an external investigation into the accident.
The full extent of the financial impact to BHP’s bottom line is still unknown.
