Brazilians sue miner after homes vanish down sinkholes

BRAZILIANS whose homes have disappeared down sinkholes have taken a mining company to court in the Netherlands to demand compensation.

Residents of Maceió, which has been dubbed the “sinking city”, have accused Braskem, a petrochemicals company, of causing an earthquake that led to the destruction of their homes.

Home-owners claim it failed to offer fair compensation for the damage it caused and are seeking justice from courts in the Netherlands, where the firm’s European subsidiaries are based.

Pedro Martins, a partner at PGMBM, which helps people take on large corporations and is representing the homeowners, said: “We hope we can achieve justice for these people. The days of companies doing what they want and getting away from it are over.”

According to Reuters news agency, a federal study in Brazil found salt mining by Braskem caused tremors that damaged the homes, though Braskem disputes the findings.

The Daily Telegraph approached Braskem for comment but did not immediately receive a response.