ROTTERDAM: Residents from a Brazilian metropolis devastated by earthquakes brought on by salt mining went to a Dutch court docket on Wednesday, looking for justice and compensation they are saying is inconceivable in Brazil.
Households from Maceio flew to the Netherlands to listen to the case in opposition to Brazilian petrochemical large Braskem, whose European operations are based mostly in Rotterdam.
As soon as a metropolis of 1 million individuals, life in Maceio has been upended by earthquakes in 2018 attributed to salt mining and subsequent cracks in streets and buildings, forcing tens of 1000’s to go away their houses.
Neighborhood chief Alex Da Silva, 42, instructed AFP: “What we live now’s hell.”
“Those who’re left in our group are nonetheless struggling sinking (of the earth) and shakes right now. We hope right now for justice, to lastly get justice,” he mentioned.
Braskem says it has provided monetary compensation and psychological help to these affected, plus help in transferring home.
The agency says it has paid out 3.93 billion reais ($790 million) in compensation and monetary support to greater than 18,000 individuals.
However Martijn Van Dam, a lawyer at Pogust Goodhead, which is representing the households, instructed AFP: “That compensation program shouldn’t be full compensation.”
“It’s an try of Braskem to settle issues low-cost and for that very cause, the claimants have introduced a declare to the Netherlands to get full compensation.”
The court docket will first resolve on legal responsibility, then compensation, if it guidelines in opposition to Braskem.
In 2022, the Rotterdam court docket dominated it had jurisdiction within the case, arguing that its mum or dad firm Braskem SA and the subsidiaries within the Netherlands had been “inextricably linked.”
“Braskem SA might have moderately foreseen that not solely their (Dutch) entities but in addition the holding firm could possibly be introduced earlier than this court docket,” the judges mentioned in that ruling.
Maria Rosangela Ferreria Da Silva, a 48-year-old civil servant, mentioned she was “expelled” from her residence after the quakes and suffers psychological issues.
“I hope for justice, as a result of in Brazil, Braskem is the one who holds the playing cards… And right here we really feel it is completely different,” she instructed AFP.
She mentioned her mom had fallen into melancholy after leaving the home she had lived her complete life. Her well being declined and he or she lastly died of Covid.
“I misplaced my mum due to that catastrophe,” she mentioned.
“However regardless of any monetary compensation, I’ll by no means have my mum again… Solely somebody who has a mom and loses her like it will perceive what I am feeling, how I really feel about shedding my mum,” she mentioned, visibly emotional.
Households from Maceio flew to the Netherlands to listen to the case in opposition to Brazilian petrochemical large Braskem, whose European operations are based mostly in Rotterdam.
As soon as a metropolis of 1 million individuals, life in Maceio has been upended by earthquakes in 2018 attributed to salt mining and subsequent cracks in streets and buildings, forcing tens of 1000’s to go away their houses.
Neighborhood chief Alex Da Silva, 42, instructed AFP: “What we live now’s hell.”
“Those who’re left in our group are nonetheless struggling sinking (of the earth) and shakes right now. We hope right now for justice, to lastly get justice,” he mentioned.
Braskem says it has provided monetary compensation and psychological help to these affected, plus help in transferring home.
The agency says it has paid out 3.93 billion reais ($790 million) in compensation and monetary support to greater than 18,000 individuals.
However Martijn Van Dam, a lawyer at Pogust Goodhead, which is representing the households, instructed AFP: “That compensation program shouldn’t be full compensation.”
“It’s an try of Braskem to settle issues low-cost and for that very cause, the claimants have introduced a declare to the Netherlands to get full compensation.”
The court docket will first resolve on legal responsibility, then compensation, if it guidelines in opposition to Braskem.
In 2022, the Rotterdam court docket dominated it had jurisdiction within the case, arguing that its mum or dad firm Braskem SA and the subsidiaries within the Netherlands had been “inextricably linked.”
“Braskem SA might have moderately foreseen that not solely their (Dutch) entities but in addition the holding firm could possibly be introduced earlier than this court docket,” the judges mentioned in that ruling.
Maria Rosangela Ferreria Da Silva, a 48-year-old civil servant, mentioned she was “expelled” from her residence after the quakes and suffers psychological issues.
“I hope for justice, as a result of in Brazil, Braskem is the one who holds the playing cards… And right here we really feel it is completely different,” she instructed AFP.
She mentioned her mom had fallen into melancholy after leaving the home she had lived her complete life. Her well being declined and he or she lastly died of Covid.
“I misplaced my mum due to that catastrophe,” she mentioned.
“However regardless of any monetary compensation, I’ll by no means have my mum again… Solely somebody who has a mom and loses her like it will perceive what I am feeling, how I really feel about shedding my mum,” she mentioned, visibly emotional.
