Vale SA said May 20 that it suspended rail freight near the Gongo Soco iron ore mine in Brazil, where it had warned of a possible tailings dam burst.

The affected rail line is on the Belo Horizonte branch line between Sabará and Barão de Cocais and is operated by the Vitória-Minas Railroad. The company is evaluating alternatives to minimize impacts.

In the prior week, the mining major reportedly told state prosecutors of a potential tailings dam collapse at Gongo Soco, which is about 40 kilometers from the Brumadiho dam at the Feijao iron ore mine in Brazil's Minas Gerais state that disintegrated and killed hundreds in January.

Operations for the passenger train running on the same line were also suspended indefinitely May 16.