More than 6,500 people from Madagascar have filed a lawsuit against Rio Tinto in London's High Court. More than 2,000 of the claimants are children. The claim alleges that the company's QIT Madagascar Minerals (QMM) mine, which Rio Tinto owns 80%, contaminated local water sources with lead and uranium.
UK-based law firm Leigh Day filed the lawsuit. It alleges that acidic wastewater from the mineral sands operation was discharged into lakes and waterways villagers use for drinking, cooking and washing. The claimants are seeking compensation and court orders requiring Rio Tinto to clean up the alleged damage and prevent further contamination.
Rio Tinto has acknowledged receiving notice of the claim but says it has not yet received the full details. The company has previously said its water monitoring found uranium and lead levels mostly below detection limits. It has also said it found no link between a 2022 water release and subsequent fish deaths.