This is the moment a dam is breached at a Brazilian mine following a period of heavy rainfall.

The images were filmed at the Dique Lisa dam at the Pau Branco iron ore mine, owned by the Vallourec mining company, in the municipality of Nova Lima in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.

According to the Fire Department, the overflow happened because of excessive rain in the area. Vallourec said solid material was carried from the Cachoeirinha pile to the dam due to the rainfall, and the alarm sirens went off at 10.31 am.

Water and debris from the overflow affected the BR-040 motorway, connecting the cities of Belo Horizonte and Rio de Janeiro, and disrupted traffic.

Firefighters reported that there was no dam failure. Vallourec and the Nova Lima authorities said the same, adding that one person was injured.

After the overflow, a state court ordered the suspension of work at the mine and demanded that the company guarantees the dam’s stability.

The government of Minas Gerais reportedly fined Vallourec BRL 288.6 million (GBP 38 million) for the environmental damage caused by the overflow.

In a statement, the local authorities said: “According to the notice of violation, received by Vallourec on Monday night (10), the company was reported for ‘intervening in an act of nature that results in pollution, degradation or damage to water resources, plant and animal species, ecosystems and habitats or to natural or cultural heritage, or that harms the health, safety and wellbeing of the population’.”

The pollution of nearby water bodies and possible death of marine life are among the visible and immediate impacts of the incident, according to the authorities.

The environmental impact is also being assessed by the Southern State Environmental Protection Area of the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte and the Serra da Calcada natural park in Nova Lima.

The extent of the damage is still being evaluated and new complaints may be filed against the company.