Hungary

Hungary: Mild justice to the Toxic

More than five years ago, a toxic mud avalanches from a Hungarian aluminum the environment crashed, and ten people are killed – now that you have all defendants been acquitted.

Five years after the red sludge disaster in the Hungarian town of Kolontar has a judgment of 15 Directors and managers of the Aluminiumfabrik TIME acquitted. The competent court in the Western city of Veszprem saw in his verdict, the guilt of the accused – among them was also TIME-chief Zoltan Bakonyi – not as proven.

1.1 Million Cubic Meters Of Toxic

The accused was negligent homicide, damage to public property, violations of rules on waste disposal and pollution burden has been placed. The public Prosecutor’s office had prison sentences for all defendants is required. The process began in September 2012.

The chemical spill had on the 4. October 2010 in the TIMES-Aluminiumfabrik in Ajka occurred, 160 kilometres West of Budapest. A collecting tank in the factory broke, and about 1.1 million cubic meters of Toxic spread in Kolontar and two other villages. In the red mud, it was a poisonous leaded waste product from the aluminium production, which is also slightly radioactive.

Ten Dead, bs to 200 injured

Ten people were killed, up to 200 suffered injuries, including severe burns. More than 300 houses were destroyed and 800 acres of arable land and several water bodies have been contaminated. The government had around 80 million Euro for the reconstruction and for the cleanup of the contaminated area with specialized equipment to spend. The Toxic also reached the Danube. The Harvest and the consumption of local products was temporarily banned. By today, hundreds of acres nothing is to be cultivated. Many residents refused, in the affected area return.

The mud avalanches was the worst industrial disaster, and at the same time, the worst environmental disaster in Hungary’s history. In September 2011, the operator TIMES to 135 billion forints (430 million euros) fee to the local authorities condemned. His production allowed the work to continue. As the company fine is not paid, it was nationalized.

sti/fab (afp, dpa)