BUDAPEST, (Reuters) – Workers raced to build an emergency dam in western Hungary yesterday as cracks in a reservoir widened, threatening to unleash a second torrent of toxic sludge on the village of Kolontar and nearby rivers.
About one million cubic metres of the waste material leaked out of the alumina plant reservoir into villages and waterways earlier this week, killing seven people, injuring 123 and fouling rivers including a local branch of the Danube. Nearly a week into the disaster, a person was still missing.
Kolontar was evacuated on Saturday after cracks appeared in the northern wall of the reservoir, threatening a second spill of the toxic red sludge, which swept through neighbouring areas on Monday, toppling cars and wreaking havoc in houses.
A by-product of alumina production, the thick, highly alkaline substance has a caustic effect on the skin. It contains heavy metals, such as lead, and is slightly radioactive. Inhaling its dust can cause lung cancer.
Late yesterday the Veszprem county disaster unit advised crews and residents in the area affected by Monday’s spill to wear protective masks and glasses as dust levels in some places had exceeded the health limit as the sludge was drying out. It said the dust can irritate airways due to its alkalinity.
