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In pictures: Deadly dam collapse in Brumadinho

A dam has collapsed at an iron-ore mine in south-eastern Brazil, covering a vast area in a sea of muddy sludge that has swept over roads and destroyed buildings.

Many people are feared dead and scores are thought to be missing after the dam, which is owned by Brazil's largest mining company, Vale, gave way on Friday

EPA Aerial view of mud and waste from the disaster caused by a dam spill in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 26 January 2019 — Many people are feared dead and scores are thought to be missing after the dam, which is owned by Brazil's largest mining company, Vale, gave way on Friday

A river of mud carved its way across roads and farmland and even took down a bridge

Getty Images A helicopter flies over a dam owned by Brazilian miner Vale SA that burst, in Brumadinho, Brazil — A river of mud carved its way across roads and farmland and even took down a bridge

Cars were swept away like toys by the powerful current

EPA A car in a sea of muddy sludge in Brumadinho — Cars were swept away like toys by the powerful current

The muddy sludge buried the dam's cafeteria where hundreds of workers were eating

Reuters Aerial view of the burst dam — The muddy sludge buried the dam's cafeteria where hundreds of workers were eating

The dam was used to hold residue from the nearby Feijão iron ore mine, and its collapse caused a sea of waste to spread across rural areas of Minas Gerais state

Getty Images Aerial view taken after the collapse of a dam which belonged to Brazil's giant mining company Vale — The dam was used to hold residue from the nearby Feijão iron ore mine, and its collapse caused a sea of waste to spread across rural areas of Minas Gerais state

Rescue teams were dispatched, and officials say a number of residents who lived close to the dam have been evacuated

AFP Rescuers work in the search for victims after the collapse of a dam — Rescue teams were dispatched, and officials say a number of residents who lived close to the dam have been evacuated

Officials say that leaked tailings from the mine have spread into the nearby community of Vila Forteco, which is close to the city of Brumadinho

Reuters General view from above of a dam owned by Brazilian miner Vale SA that burst, in Brumadinho, Brazil — Officials say that leaked tailings from the mine have spread into the nearby community of Vila Forteco, which is close to the city of Brumadinho

President Jair Bolsonaro and other senior government officials are due to visit the region later on Saturday

Reuters General view from above of the burst dam — President Jair Bolsonaro and other senior government officials are due to visit the region later on Saturday

The incident comes just over three years after another dam burst in Minas Gerais, killing 19 people. That was Brazil's worst environmental disaster

EPA A general view on damage caused by the breakage of a dam containing mineral waste from Vale — The incident comes just over three years after another dam burst in Minas Gerais, killing 19 people. That was Brazil's worst environmental disaster

Rescue teams used helicopters to search for the missing in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais

Antonio Lacerda Rescue teams used helicopters to search for the missing in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais — Rescue teams used helicopters to search for the missing in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais

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