Maceió afundada pelo lucro: o crime socioambiental da Braskem e as dinâmicas do capitalismo de desastre

Abstract

Since 2018, the city of Maceió has been facing land subsidence caused by Braskem's rock salt mining. The disaster resulted in the relocation of approximately 60.000 people and the evacuation of more than 14.000 properties in the neighborhoods of Pinheiro, Mutange, Bebedouro, Bom Parto, and part of Farol. The compensation measures offered by the company have been criticized for being insufficient and for appropriating the affected areas for real estate purposes. Recognized as the largest ongoing urban environmental crime in the world, the case highlights how economic interests can prevail over the right to housing and the city. This article analyzes the socioeconomic and urban impacts, Braskem's corporate discourse, and the transformation of the tragedy into an opportunity for accumulation, relating them to the concept of disaster capitalism.