On January 25, 2019, a catastrophic disaster occurred in Brumadinho, state of Minas Gerais, about 400km north of Rio de Janeiro, when the tailings dam of a deactivated iron ore mine owned by Vale collapsed releasing a mudflow that advanced over houses in a rural area near the city. A major relief effort response was launch by State and Federal governments using helicopters from different military and civilian agencies. At least 65 people died.