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Hungary races to build emergency dam

Authorities fear the toxic sludge reservoir could completely collapse and send a second poisonous flood into the nearby villages and rivers.

11/10/10 213 Views No Comments

HUNGARIAN AUTHORITIES ARE  making provisions to evacuate 3,000 people amidst warnings that a Ajka aluminium plant could collapse at any time, causing a second wave of poisonous flooding.
Efforts to build an emergency dam by Tuesday to hold back the threatened second spill are continuing.
Signs of new damage spotted on the dam of the reservoir sparked an evacuation of the entire village of Kolontar yesterday.

So far then the scale of the damage caused by the toxic flood is immense: at least seven people have been killed, 123 are injured and widespread pollution of nearby waterways has occurred.

Despite the alkalinity level of the Danube being maintained, concerns remain that long-term effects could still be seen. If large fish ingest any heavy metals carried in the waterway, for example, this would be potentially hazardous for people who then consume them.

Residents of the 800-strong villages of Kolontar have been told that they will probably never be able to return home because of the scale of the damage caused by the poisonous waste.

Hungary races to build emergency dam
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  • The aftermath of the toxic flood

    A Hungarian firefighter cleans a street covered by toxic red sludge in Devecser.

  • The aftermath of the toxic flood

    Footsteps pick their way through the toxic red sludge which covers a yard in Devecser.

  • The aftermath of the toxic flood

    Hungarian fishermen Attila Solyomvari, left, and Tibor Osze, right, look at the River Danube near Gyor. The mighty Danube apparently absorbed Hungary's massive red sludge spill with little immediate damage Friday but laboratory tests heightened concerns about possible longer-term harm caused by toxic heavy metals in the slurry.

  • The aftermath of the toxic flood

    Poluted waters of Marcal river, left, mixes with Raba river in Gyor.

  • The aftermath of the toxic flood

    Devecser residents rescue usable items from their home flooded by toxic red sludge.

  • The aftermath of the toxic flood

    A bus driver waits beside bus on a highway with military transport, ready to pick up evacuees outside the town of Kolontar.

  • The aftermath of the toxic flood

    Beds prepared for the victims evacuated from the toxic red sludge-hit Kolontar village.

  • The aftermath of the toxic flood

    The first residents who were evacuated from toxic red sludge-hit Kolontar village arrive at the temporary shelter set up in the Sports Hall of Ajka, 150 kms west of Budapest.

  • The aftermath of the toxic flood

    Hungarian soldiers wearing protective gear are washed by water jets in Devecser, 164 kms southwest of Budapest.

  • The aftermath of the toxic flood

    The rupture, which caused a flood of toxic red sludge is seen at the reservoir in Kolontar. The towns of both Kolontar and Devecser were evacuated, as they are in the likely path of any new sludge deluge.

  • The aftermath of the toxic flood

    Hungarian soldiers wearing protective masks talk to each other while cleaning streets flooded by toxic red sludge in Devecser.

  • The aftermath of the toxic flood

    Hungarian soldiers wearing protective masks are being deployed to clean streets flooded by toxic red sludge in Devecser.

  • The aftermath of the toxic flood

    Hungarian soldiers wearing protective gear wash the back of a truck used to clean areas flooded by toxic red sludge in Devecser.

  • The aftermath of the toxic flood

    Rescue workers cross a military bridge built next to a bridge collapsed in flooding toxic red sludge in Kolontar. Residents of Kolontar were evacuated Saturday, and the neighboring town of Devecser with a population of 5,300 is also in the likely path of a new sludge deluge.
  • A Hungarian firefighter cleans a street covered by toxic red sludge in Devecser.
  • Footsteps pick their way through the toxic red sludge which covers a yard in Devecser.
  • Hungarian fishermen Attila Solyomvari, left, and Tibor Osze, right, look at the River Danube near Gyor. The mighty Danube apparently absorbed Hungary's massive red sludge spill with little immediate damage Friday but laboratory tests heightened concerns about possible longer-term harm caused by toxic heavy metals in the slurry.
  • Poluted waters of Marcal river, left, mixes with Raba river in Gyor.
  • Devecser residents rescue usable items from their home flooded by toxic red sludge.
  • A bus driver waits beside bus on a highway with military transport, ready to pick up evacuees outside the town of Kolontar.
  • Beds prepared for the victims evacuated from the toxic red sludge-hit Kolontar village.
  • The first residents who were evacuated from toxic red sludge-hit Kolontar village arrive at the temporary shelter set up in the Sports Hall of Ajka, 150 kms west of Budapest.
  • Hungarian soldiers wearing protective gear are washed by water jets in Devecser, 164 kms southwest of Budapest.
  • The rupture, which caused a flood of toxic red sludge is seen at the reservoir in Kolontar. The towns of both Kolontar and Devecser were evacuated, as they are in the likely path of any new sludge deluge.
  • Hungarian soldiers wearing protective masks talk to each other while cleaning streets flooded by toxic red sludge in Devecser.
  • Hungarian soldiers wearing protective masks are being deployed to clean streets flooded by toxic red sludge in Devecser.
  • Hungarian soldiers wearing protective gear wash the back of a truck used to clean areas flooded by toxic red sludge in Devecser.
  • Rescue workers cross a military bridge built next to a bridge collapsed in flooding toxic red sludge in Kolontar. Residents of Kolontar were evacuated Saturday, and the neighboring town of Devecser with a population of 5,300 is also in the likely path of a new sludge deluge.

About the author:

Jennifer Wade
jen@thejournal.ie

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