VIDEO RESOURCES

The Jagersfontein Tailings Dam Failure Investigation and Dam Break Analysis

Presentation by Prof SW Jacobsz and Dr Louis Coetzee, University of Pretoria, Faculty of Engineering (17 Feb 2026). On September 11, 2022, a catastrophic failure of the Jagersfontein diamond mine tailings dam in South Africa released over 6 million (\text{m}^{3}) of liquid sludge, killing two people, destroying 164 homes, and devastating over 1,600 hectares of farmland. The disaster resulted from weak structural foundations, excessive sludge loading, and poor oversight of re-mining activities. (ScienceDirect.Com)

Inside China’s Zambian copper mine disaster – 28 August 2025

It’s being called an environmental catastrophe – that’s been followed by an alleged government and industry coverup. The disaster, at a copper mine in Zambia earlier this year, has seen a toxic cocktail of chemicals spill into a river which millions of Zambians live alongside. Channel 4 News has seen a report by an independent body setting out how the true scale of the accident at the mine, which is Chinese owned, has been suppressed.

Brazil dam collapse trial: Mining giant faces historic lawsuit in London

Mar 14, 2025: A trial over the 2015 Mariana dam collapse in Brazil has concluded in London’s High Court, marking the largest group claim in British legal history. More than 700,000 Brazilians and dozens of municipalities are seeking damages from mining giant BHP over one of the country’s worst environmental disasters. The case was brought to British courts due to the company’s partial UK ties. Al Jazeera’s Sonia Gallego reports.

Hundreds displaced after Jagersfontein dam wall collapses, houses destroyed – 12 September 2022

President Cyril Ramaphosa was on Monday expected to visit the mining town of Jagersfontein in Free State after the collapse of a dam wall which left one person dead, scores injured, more than 200 displaced and a few people unaccounted for.

Jagersfontein Tailings Dam Failure – 11 September 2024

Today marks the second anniversary of the Jagersfontein tailings dam failure in Free State, South Africa. On 11 Sept 2022, the tailings dam failed and inundated homes in Charlesville and Skoti. Many people are still displaced and have not been compensated for basic losses. Reclamation of waterways and farmland is slow and difficult. University of the Free State (UFS) hosted a photo and film exhibition yesterday, following a research collaboration with The University of Queensland ‪@universityqueensland‬. UFS is helping to build an archive of stories, pictures, and documents with local people, and for the public record.

Terrifying moment of Brazil dam collapse caught on camera – 2 Feb 2019

A video aired on Brazilian media shows the exact moment a dam burst in Brazil on 25 January. The dam break at an iron ore mining complex operated by the minerals firm Vale killed at least 65 people. A further 279 are missing. Cars can be seen driving around desperately trying to escape as a dramatic gush of mud approaches. The surge buried buildings adjoining the dam and several parts of the nearby city of Brumadinho

Life is very hard after Merriespruit tailings dam disaster – 1 April 2014

On the night of 22 February 1994, the wall dam of the Harmony Gold mine collapsed in Merriespruit, a suburb of Virginia in the Free State Goldfields of South Africa. More than 2·5 million tonnes of mining village. About eighty houses were swept away and 200 others were severely damaged. It was reported that about seventeen people were killed. Ayanda speak to the survivor, mother and daughter.

2020 UNEP Global Tailings Review

The International Council on Mining and Metals, UN Environment Programme and Principles for Responsible Investment, convened the Global Tailings Review to establish a global industry standard for the safer management of tailings facilities.