Mining company BHP has been found liable for a 2015 dam collapse in Brazil, known as the country’s worst-ever environmental disaster, by London’s High Court.

The dam collapse killed 19 people, polluted the river and destroyed hundreds of homes.

The civil lawsuit, representing more than 600,000 people including civilians, local governments and businesses, had been valued at up to £36bn ($48bn).

The claimants’ lawyers argued successfully that the trial should be held in London because BHP headquarters “were in the UK at the time of the dam collapse”.