“A major ecological catastrophe — The reservoir of an alumina plant in western Hungary burst, flooding several towns with towering waves of red sludge. Hungary declares a state of emergency, one day after a torrent of toxic sludge tears through local villages, killing four people.” — ABC News.

From Russian news:

Hungary declared a state of emergency in three western counties on Tuesday due to spill of toxic alumina sludge which has killed three people and injured more than 100 others, the news agency MTI reported.

The counties of Veszprem, Gyor-Moson-Sopron and Vas counties were covered by the state of emergency [and by the sludge]. . . . the dam of a sludge reservoir burst at the huge Ajkai Timfoldgyar Zrt plant, owned by MAL Zrt., flooding parts of three villages.

The National Disaster Unit (NDU) denied a report that the sludge reservoir’s dam had broken at a second point, saying crews were pouring plaster into a nearby river to help neutralize the spill.

Apparently there is no proper word, yet, for this material; a wave of toxic fluid escaping from a holding pond or container. So “sludge” is what it’s called, although this looks rather thin to be true sludge, like  that from a coal ash holding pond for instance.  (In Tennessee it was called sludge and slurry.)  The point is that it’s toxic, it’s deadly, it contains lead, and it is burning the skin of all who are unfortunate enough to touch it.  It may also be toxic to breath the fumes from this material.  Time will tell if those who came in contact with it will die from exposure to it.  According to CNN International, the red color is from iron oxide, and yes, it contains heavy metals such as lead.  It’s caustic, and interestingly, slightly radioactive. Reportedly, inhaling it can cause lung cancer.  So, you want to avoid this sludge at all costs, which is difficult to do when it’s  thundering down your street like a tsunami.  In true form, the alumina plant owner said this stuff is “not hazardous waste.”    It’s just radioactive waste that contains lead and causes cancer. My condolences to the people of that area, who are in for an unclear and unhealthy future.

What is clear is that it’s already been deadly to plants, trees and animals. According to ABC and Russian News, four people have already died, presumably drowned or swept away. Many are hospitalized with toxic burns. As always, those who suffer the most from environmental disasters are usually the poor or middle class. They don’t put toxic sludge ponds or containers near wealthy neighborhoods or gated communities.  Do they.