Chemical sludge from Hungarian plant has reached Danube, say media
Toxic sludge from a Hungarian alumina plant has reached one of the branches of the Danube River, according to Tibor Dobson, head of disaster relief operations in the area, the BBC has reported.
"The chemical sludge flowing into one of the main waterways of Europe could have negative affect for all countries through which the Danube river flows: Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Moldova," the report said.
As reported, the toxic waste poured out of a sludge reservoir at an alumina refinery in the Hungarian town of Ajka, 160 kilometers southwest of Budapest. Four people were killed, 120 injured, six are missing and eight people were hospitalized with serious chemical burns. Hundreds of residents from local villages were evacuated.
The Hungarian authorities have launched a criminal case on the leakage of the toxic sludge.