Dam claim opens today

More than 600,000 Brazilian claimants are suing for up to £36 billion

A 12-week hearing to decide whether the global mining company BHP is responsible for the catastrophic failure of a dam in south-eastern Brazil nearly nine years ago is expected to open in London this morning, despite a new settlement offer that emerged at the weekend.

In what’s described as one of the world’s largest collective environmental lawsuits, more than 600,000 Brazilian claimants — including 46 local governments and around 2,000 businesses — are suing the part-owner of the dam for up to £36 billion over what they describe as one of the most devastating environmental disasters in Brazilian history.