Danube is safe, says Hungary premier

Hungarian officials on Friday played down the threat of disastrous pollution to the Danube river from an industrial accident in Hungary, while its Prime Minister said the situation was under control.

The death toll from Monday's disaster meanwhile rose to six, said officials, and two people are missing.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who declared a state of emergency in three counties earlier this week, insisted there remained little risk of the pollution running into the Danube, Europe's second-longest river.

“The good news is that we have succeeded in bringing it under control and very probably waters threatening the environment will not enter the Danube, even on Hungarian territory,” said Mr. Orban during a visit to neighbouring Bulgaria.

Environment State Secretary Zoltan Illes also insisted the pollution “won't reach the lower Danube”.

Rescue teams were dropping acid and gypsum into the Danube and its tributaries from planes to neutralise the alkaline effects of the toxic sludge.