Crews battle to clear villages of toxic sludge in Hungary

An aerial view of the red mud covered streets and rescue workers in Kolontar, southwest of Budapest.after a dike of a reservoir containing red mud of an alumina factory in nearby Ajka broke, and over one million cubic meters of the poisonous chemical sludge inundated three villages. The toxic flood has killed a yet unknown number of people with some people still missing.

Emergency workers and construction crews are sweeping through the Hungarian town of Kolontar hardest hit by a flood of toxic sludge, trying to clear roads and homes of the deep red mud and caustic water.

Kolontar mayor Karoly Tily said on Wednesday that he could not give a “reassuring answer” to residents who fear a repeat of Monday’s calamity, when 1 million cubic meters (35.3 million cubic feet) of toxic waste broke through a plant’s reservoir and engulfed several towns.

In Kolontar, a military construction crew is trying to assemble a pontoon bridge across a toxic stream so residents can briefly return to their homes and rescue belongings.

Hungary has declared a state of emergency due to the flood. At least four people have died, three are missing and 120 have been injured.