A 52-year-old Copasa worker died after being hit by an explosion inside a treatment plant in the city of Cape Verde, in southern Minas Gerais, on Wednesday (January 15). With the impact, the worker was ejected into a waste reservoir.

According to the Fire Department, the accident happened around 6 pm. At the scene, officials said that the victim was working on an upflow anaerobic reactor - a system that treats sanitary sewage and industrial effluents - when there was an explosion. With the impact, a steel plate was thrown and hit the employee, who ended up projected inside the waste reservoir.

The military started work, together with a Copasa team, to exhaust the entire volume of the reactor, about 600 cubic meters of waste. After about five hours, the worker's body was viewed. The firefighters used personal protective equipment, protective clothing, lighting and autonomous breathing equipment to enter the reservoir and remove the body through a duct.

The rescue work was monitored by the expertise of the Civil Police (PCMG). After the rescue, the body was sent to the Forensic Medical Institute in Poços de Caldas.

In a statement, Copasa regretted the death of employee Cláudio Cardoso de Oliveira and assured that, immediately after the accident, the Copasa team based in the South of Minas was mobilized to provide assistance and welcome the employee's family. "The city hall also provided support by sending a psychologist to accompany the relatives.

The entire technical staff of the Company was also deployed to thoroughly investigate the causes of the tragedy and provide the necessary clarifications to the Military and Civil police, who follow the case," he said.

According to the company, the employee correctly used the personal protective equipment. The Company also reinforced that it values the transparency of the information and that it will provide all the necessary clarifications as soon as the investigation work is completed. "Cláudio Cardoso de Oliveira leaves two children and wife, who will receive all the assistance from Copasa," he said.