Broken waste reservoir, Hungary declared a state of emergency

On October 5, the Hungarian government declared a state of emergency in the three western provinces after a reservoir of industrial waste broke, causing a mud flood that killed 4 people, 7 missing and 120 injured person.

About 600,000 - 700,000m3 of red mud, which is the product of bauxite refining, spilled out of the reservoir of the Ajkai Timfoldgyar Zrt plant in Ajka town, 160 km from Budapest in the afternoon of October 4. The amount of waste quickly turned into a flood, sweeping the surrounding areas with flood levels of up to 2m, as in Devecser town.

The experts were sent to clean up the waste. (Photo: Reuters).

Many victims suffer eye and human burns, as this waste burns the skin and causes poisoning if accidentally swallowed.

Experts say the red mud contains toxic metals such as lead and can cause cancer, while BBC quoted Dr. Peter Jakabos as saying the burns could take days to reveal, causing serious injury. to the inner parts.

No deaths have been reported as burns or poisoning. The cause of death of four victims was drowning, police said.

Location of waste spillage. The image shows Kolontar town adjacent to the waste reservoir area. (Photo: AP).

Experts say the waste is light radioactive and can cause cancer if inhaled. (Photo: Reuters).

The Hungarian government said the flood had directly affected 7,000 people, destroyed many houses and damaged many road works. Nearly 500 soldiers and police were mobilized, while a state of emergency was issued in the three provinces of Veszprem, Vas and Gyor-Moson-Sopron.

' This is the worst ecological disaster in Hungarian history ' - Reuters quoted Zoltan Illes, Hungary's minister of environmental affairs. The Hungarian government is concerned about an environmental disaster that occurs if the waste flows to the Danube and other tributaries like Marcal and Torna.

Heavy rains could cause the reservoir to break, according to BBC correspondent Nick Thorpe. The police have searched the headquarters of MAL Zrt. However, the company has confirmed that " the reservoir has no unusual signs " and that the waste is not considered hazardous according to European standards.