BRASILIA, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Brazilian miner Samarco, an iron ore joint venture between Vale SA VALE5.SA and BHP Billiton Ltd BLT.L , said in a statement a tailings dam burst near the town of Mariana in the state of Minas Gerais.
The G1 news service of the Globo Media group reported that between 15 and 16 people died and 45 others are missing.