“Formas de matar e morrer”: o luto pelos corpos desaparecidos e o luto dos moradores da comunidade cachoeira do choro pelo rio Paraopeba

Abstract

This dissertation focuses on the tragedy that occurred in Brumadinho in January 2019, when the Vale S.A.-controlled Tailings Dam collapsed, resulting in devastation and the loss of hundreds of lives. The study delves into the different types of mourning experienced by those affected by the dam's rupture. Two distinct processes of mourning are analyzed: the first involves those who had their loved ones' bodies disappear in the mud, while the second pertains to the mourning of the residents of Cachoeira do Choro due to the death of the Paraopeba River, resulting from the released tailings during the disaster. The data and analyses presented in this dissertation aim to broaden the understanding of the disaster caused by Vale S.A., revealing different aspects of the losses, grief, and mourning experienced by a rural community whose life was deeply connected to the Paraopeba River in economic, social, and cultural terms. Additionally, we emphasize the anguish and sorrow of the family members who faced the impossibility or delay in conducting farewell rituals for their loved ones.