Hungary battles to prevent sludge contamination

Hungary was fighting a desperate battle to stop a tide of toxic sludge from contaminating key waterways, October 2010, following one of the worst ecological disasters to affect the region in recent years.

The biggest chemical accident in Hungary's history killed seven people and swept through entire villages. The authorities were worried that the toxic sludge could reach the Danube River.

For the European press, the ecological disaster highlighted the need for greater European regulation of industry.

PressEurop, 8.10.10: Hungary's red tide http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/356951-hungarys-red-tide

BBC News, 8.10.10: Hungary calms Danube sludge fears http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11498884

EurActiv, 8.10.10: Hungary asks EU for help with toxic decontamination http://www.euractiv.com/climate-environment/hungary-asks-eu-help-toxic-decontamination-news-498622

BBC News, 7.10.10: Hungarian chemical sludge spill reaches Danube http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11491412

BBC News, 6.10.10: 'One year' to clean toxic spill in Hungary http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11481740

Deutsche Welle, 5.10.10: Hungary declares state of emergency over toxic spill http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,6079868,00.html

Spiegel Online International, 6.10.10: Hungary's Toxic Sludge Could Reach Danube http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,721563,00.html

European Commission; Press Release; IP/10/1308: Hungary accident: European team of five experts to start working on the ground on Monday http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1308&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

European Commission; Press Release; IP/10/1300: Hungary activates the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and requests technical expertise to combat mud pollution http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1300&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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