Brazil's federal and state governments plan to sue the owners of the Samarco iron ore miner for 20 billion reais ($7.2 billion) in damages caused by the burst of a tailings dam, Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira told reporters on Friday.

Samarco is a joint venture between the world's largest mining company, BHP Billiton, and the biggest iron ore miner, Brazil's Vale.

The dam burst earlier this month unleashed 60 million cubic metres of mud and mine waste that devastated a village, killed at least 13 people and polluted a major river valley.