Brazil police have accused three giant companies, including Vale and Samarco, its joint-venture with BHP Billiton, of environmental crimes following a major dam disaster, which devastated towns in November.

In a report with The Wall Street Journal, Brazil police are taking a step forward to press formal charges. This move will start a more thorough investigation by police. In Brazil, formal charges can be filed by prosecutors, only after police have finished their investigation.

The Brazilian federal Police did not name any of those accused, the report says. They did refer only to the positions of the accused, which included Samarco's chief executive, and its director of operations.

Vogbr Recursos Hídricos e Geotecnica Ltda., an engineering consultancy firm was also cited. The firm reported last year that the Fundao dam was "stable." The engineer who was responsible for the report was also cited. 

Samarco, in an official statement said that they didn't "agree with the accusation against its professionals." They protested that there has been no "technical conclusion" as to the cause of the accident at the moment. Samarco did not provide any contact information for any of its employees or lawyers.

Vale, on the other hand, said that they were "surprised" by the accusations. Vale and BHP Billiton both insisted that Samarco was solely responsible for the dam disaster. However, leading prosecutors have noted that Vale deposited iron tailings from one of its own mines into the Fundão reservoir. Prosecutors called it a "direct polluter."

The company said that the accusations of the Federal police are "based on premises."

Sydney Morning Herald reported that the federal police said that "more accusations" made against companies or individuals is entirely possible.

Police in Minas Gerais are currently investigating the role of the mining giants in the deaths of 17 people as well as the material damage caused by the mining disaster.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff's administration has handed out the respective fines against the mining giants. The Brazilian Supreme Court has also ordered all assets of Vale and BHP Billiton to be frozen and subsequently used to cover the payment of damages to those affected as well as their families.

Following the disaster, residents of Bento Rodrigues, who had little to no warning of the impending disaster, said that they could do nothing more than run.

Some areas of the town look like they had been hit by a tornado, and residents have, in the meantime, been gathering all that they can find salvagable.