Dutch court hears pleas from devastated Brazilian earthquake victims

Residents from the earthquake-ravaged Brazilian city of Maceio have taken their plight to a Dutch court, aiming for justice and compensation that they argue is unattainable in Brazil. Families, uprooted by seismic activity linked to salt mining, confront Braskem in Rotterdam.

Amid the ruins of what was once a bustling city of a million, Maceio residents recount their ongoing nightmare following the 2018 earthquakes attributed to salt mining, resulting in extensive damage to infrastructure. Tens of thousands were forced to abandon their homes, with community leader Alex Da Silva describing their current situation as “hell.”

“The ones who are left in our community are still suffering sinking (of the earth) and shakes today. We are hoping today for justice, to finally get justice,” said Da Silva.

Brazilian petrochemical giant Braskem, facing the allegations, claims to have provided financial compensation, psychological support, and assistance in relocation, totaling 3.93 billion reais ($790 million) to over 18,000 affected individuals. However, critics argue that this falls short of full compensation.

Martijn van Dam, a lawyer representing the families, stated, “That compensation program is not full compensation. It is an attempt of Braskem to settle things cheap, and for that very reason, the claimants have brought a claim to the Netherlands to get full compensation.”

During the court hearing, Braskem’s lawyers contended that a settlement had already been reached in Brazil, rendering the Dutch case unnecessary. The court will first determine liability and, if it rules against Braskem, proceed to address compensation.

“This includes material damages, so the houses that they had to leave behind, but also moral damages because they literally lost their lives due to the collapse of the mines of Braskem,” explained van Dam.

The Rotterdam court had previously ruled in 2022 that it had jurisdiction in the case, emphasizing the inextricable link between Braskem SA and its Dutch subsidiaries.

Maria Rosangela Ferreria Da Silva, a 48-year-old civil servant, shared her heartbreaking experience, revealing she was “expelled” from her home after the quakes and still suffers psychological problems. Tragically, her mother’s health deteriorated, leading to her death from Covid.

“I lost my mum because of that disaster,” she said, emphasizing that no financial compensation can replace the void left by the tragic loss.

As the court deliberates, the eyes of the Maceio residents remain fixed on the pursuit of justice in a foreign land, seeking closure and recompense for the irrevocable losses they have endured.