Additional damage to reservoir prompts evacuation of Kolontar, Hungary

October 9, 2010

, Hungary is currently being evacuated as new damage was discovered at the burst that spilled hazardous sludge on Monday 04 October 2010 in Western Hungary. If the of the  that already released about 700,000 cubic meters of highly alkaline (pH ~13) red sludge into the area would entirely collapse, an extra volume of 500,000 cubic meters of  could be released.

A second spill containing more sediments from the bottom of the reservoir would be heavier and thicker than the first one, and would move less rapidly. The of Monday already killed seven people, chemically burnt 150 others, and left the land and the surface water devastated by the  and the  bearing also traces of heavy metals. According to Reuters the prime minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, arrived in the village Saturday morning.

It is also being reported that the newly discovered damage is minor; however, disaster crews do not want to take any chances and are evacuating the village's 800 inhabitants as a precaution. The evacuees are being taken to a sports hall and two high schools, which are eight kilometers away from the reservoir in a town called.