Late Monday night at the factory for the production of alumina Ajkai Timfoldgyar Zrt in the vicinity of the Hungarian city of Ajka, an explosion occurred, could not stand the dikes protecting the neighborhood from the thousands of tons of chemical waste - red mud. As a result, 700 thousand cubic meters of poisoned water rushed with great speed down the hill. On her way were three settlements: hundreds of homes, thousands of people. Toxic substances have already reached the local reservoirs. Now one of the major threats - the possibility of getting a poisonous water in major rivers, including the Danube. In this scenario, the environmental disaster could grow to an international scale.
People sit on the roof in the flooded town of Devecser. Mostly level of a substance in the streets up to two meters.
Firefighters on the streets of the town of Devecser on Monday, 4 of October. Later in the afternoon arrived at the scene hundreds of rescue workers and soldiers. To avoid the spread of toxic waste dumped into the river rescue helicopter neutralizing agents.
Rescuers in chemical protection suits cleaned area of Devecser. At the site has a team of ecologists and hydrologists. Scientists are urgently trying to work out a strategy for the coming weeks.
The girl from the village of Devecser rescues his cat. As authorities say, the immediate risk to human life is not, however, necessary to continue decontamination of contaminated soil. Technically perform this task as soon as possible, yet no one knows.
In the picture - the destruction of the dam reservoir of red mud in Ayka. In the waste storage facility near the plant accident occurred, and several villages were flooded iron- oxide pesticides red. Because of the dam leaked 700 thousand. Cubic meters of toxic waste. Red mud - a by-product of aluminum production, dangerous for the environment and human - it contains alkali and heavy metals.
A man collects his things, preparing for evacuation. On September 5, urgently passed evacuation of settlements that are close now. For a long time these three Hungarian villages will be dangerous for living.
Locals rake red mud from his garden in the village Kolontár.
As a result of the disaster killed three people (from other sources - four), 120 were injured and six missing. All the victims and pogibshie- inhabitants of seven villages, located near the business. Eyewitnesses reported that people were drowned in the mud flow, which consists of toxic waste and water. Meanwhile, the injured suffered burns of varying severity. Eight people are in serious condition.
Local resident inspects the damage caused by man-made disaster. If poisonous water from the sump gets destroyed in the Tisza and the Danube in Hungary, the environmental disaster could reach an international scale.
via Source