15 dead after Russian dam collapse floods dormitories

Russian emergency officials say at least 15 people are dead after a dam at a Siberian gold mine collapsed and water flooded two workers’ dormitories. The Emergencies Ministry also said 13 people were unaccounted-for, Russian news agencies reported. The collapse during heavy rain occurred early Saturday near the village of Shchetinkino, in the Krasnoyarsk region about 3,400 kilometers (2,100 miles) east of Moscow. The country’s Investigative Committee said it has opened a criminal investigation on possible charges of violation of workplace safety regulations.

Five relatives of people killed in devastating dam collapse in Brazil are using a manager of Germany company TUeV Sued that was involved in inspecting the structure. German news site Spiegel Online reported Thursday that criminal complaints were submitted against a manager and a lawyer, as well as an administrative complaint against the company itself. Munich prosecutors said the complaint accuses the unnamed manager of bribery, negligence related to the dam collapse and negligent homicide through inaction. The lawyer is accused of negligence through failed oversight.

At least 240 people died when the dam at a mine operated by Brazilian company Vale collapsed Jan. 25, flooding the city of Brumadinho with mud. German news agency DPA quoted TUeV Sued as saying it remains committed to investigating the cause of the tragedy and will continue to cooperate with authorities in Brazil and Germany.