Climate change threatens mine dams "CABILDO, Chile (Reuters) - As heavy rains continue to pummel Chile, cutting off areas of the country and damaging thousands of homes, one community is dealing with a tailings dam rupture that has sent heavy metals throughout the community and nearby water supplies.
A tailings dam belonging to copper miner Las Cenizas in central Chile began overflowing overnight on June 13 due to heavy rains and put nearby water sources, including the La Ligua river at risk of "adverse effects," Chile's environmental SMA agency said in a statement.
"Sediment from the tailing was dragged through creeks and fell on some houses. This has been very worrying for the community," said Victor Donoso, the mayor of Cabildo said on Saturday. "Nobody likes living with a tailing dam right behind them."
Heavy rains in Chile cause mining tailing overflow (yahoo.com)