Environment

Hungary Toxic Sludge Could Spread to Europe, Danube (Video)

by Amy Judd | October 6, 2010 at 07:46 am

613 views | 12 Recommendations | 4 comments

The Hungary Toxic Sludge Spill Could Have Disastrous Effects For European Countries Along the Danube River

Three people are still missing, four have been killed, and about 120 were injured when a sludge reservoir at an aluminum production plant in Ajka burst its banks on Monday, flooding the Hungarian towns of Kolontar, Devecser and Somlovasarhely.

Hundreds of people have been evacuated, but homes, belongings and bridges have been severely damaged and covered in a thick red toxic sludge.

A criminal probe has now been opened into the spill according to the Associated Press, but officials are warning that this could have disastrous effects for countries along the Danube River if the sludge gets into the waterways.

The reservoir has stopped leaking, but the European Union is concerned that this could become an 'ecological disaster' for any nation downriver from Hungary.

"This is a serious environmental problem," EU spokesman Joe Hennon told The Associated Press. "We are concerned, not just for the environment in Hungary, but this could potentially cross borders."

A state of emergency has been declared in Kolontar, Devecser and Somlovasarhely, and although the plant owners are claiming the sludge is not toxic, many have already had to be treated for health problems and say that is not the case. Many have suffered from burns and eye irritation.

According to the BBC, it is estimated that it will take a year to clean up the damage, at a cost of tens of millions of dollars.