| ■ Hungary sludge reservoir at risk of collapse | 2010.10.08 |
| Hungary's premier says the northern wall of a red sludge reservoir which burst and flooded several towns with toxic waste is showing ever-larger cracks and is "very likely" to collapse. Prime Minister Viktor Orban describes the situation as "dramatic" and says the town of Kolontar, which sits next to the reservoir and was badly damaged in Monday's flood, was evacuated early Saturday out of precaution because engineers have determined that the developing cracks could cause a whole side of the enormous container to collapse. At least seven people died and more than 120 were injured when a corner of the metals plant reservoir gave way and up to 700,000 cubic meters (184 million gallons) of toxic waste flooded several towns in western Hungary. |