Hungary has activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for urgent international assistance in the response to the severe pollution caused by the break of a sludge depository in the city of Ajka.
The Hungarian authorities have identified an immediate need for 3-5 experts with strong field experience in handling toxic sludge, decontamination and mitigation of environmental damage. Since 4 October the EU's Monitoring and Information Centre(MIC) has been in close contact with the Hungarian authorities to gather information on the incident and to quickly react in the event of a request for support from Hungary. The MIC immediately communicated the request to the 31 countries participating in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and is now awaiting offers of help.After the activation of the Mechanism, Kristalina Georgieva, Commissioner responsible for Crisis Response, said:
"Hungary has been affected by an environmental catastrophe. Disasters like this do not stop at national borders and a combined European response can help deliver the most effective assistance possible. In this moment of need, I call all EU Member States to respond with generosity to the request of Hungary".
Up to seven hundred thousand cubic metres of red sludge mixed with water flooded parts of Kolontár and Devecser in the Veszprém County. The accident occurred when a depository of industrial waste water containing sodium hydroxide burst on 4 October. The depository is the reservoir of an aluminium plant in the city of Ajka - the residue of years of production of aluminium oxide. The mud has a very high alkaline and heavy metal content -the international experts will need to assess its danger to ground water, the soil and as an airborne health hazard as the toxic mud dries out.
According to the Hungarian authorities, 150 people have been injured by the mud – including to date seven deaths, five missing and 123 hospitalised. In addition to concerns about how to lessen the impact of a new burst in the reservoir, which officials say is inevitable, the authorities are also worried that the pollution will spread beyond Hungary via the Danube.
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