Seeing Red
Inundated: On October 4, 2010, a 1.5-metre high wave of toxic red sludge from the Ajkai Timfoldgyar (Ajka Alumina Plant) in western Hungary overwhelmed surrounding localities, including the nearby villages of Kolontar and Devecser. The spill, from a ruptured caustic waste reservoir, resulted in nine fatalities, more than 120 injuries and hundreds of evacuations. The sludge also wreaked havoc on an area roughly 40 kilometres in size, and was soon declared the worst environmental accident in Hungarian history. Peter Kallo took this series of photographs one week after the disaster. More of his photos of the incident are here. Photo: Peter Kallo | 2010
Seeing Red
Feeling the pain: In addition to damages resulting from the force and spread of the flooding, the toxic mud caused severe chemical burns to humans and animals. The mud also extinguished all life in the Marcal River, and reached the Danube on October 7, prompting countries located further downstream to develop plans for emergency response. Photo: Peter Kallo | 2010
Seeing Red
A lasting impression: The sludge, or ‘red mud’, involved in the accident is a waste product of a refining process which turns bauxite into alumina. The red colour originates from hydrated iron oxide (ferrihydrite), the mud’s main component, though other compounds are present. This highly alkaline waste product is commonly stored in large open-air ponds, an estimated 30 million tones of which were stored at the Ajka facility. Photo: Peter Kallo | 2010
Seeing Red
Traffic jam: The onrush of a million-plus tonnes of sludge was powerful enough to sweep vehicles off of Devecser’s streets. Photo: Peter Kallo | 2010
Seeing Red
Changing course: The toxic spill raised immediate concerns about possible contamination of several Hungarian waterways. The Torna River, which runs through the affected area, joins the Marcal River; the Marcal then joins the Raba River, and the Raba joins with the Danube itself at Gyor. Photo: Peter Kallo | 2010
Seeing Red
Looking for answers: It is not entirely clear how the containment reservoir was breached, but a particularly wet summer is widely accepted as a contributing factor. A spokesperson for MAL Hungarian Aluminium, the company that operates the plant, told the press that the last inspection of the pond [immediately prior to the accident] had shown “nothing untoward”. Photo: Peter Kallo | 2010
Seeing Red
Conflicting accounts: Greenpeace claimed that analyses carried out on its behalf showed mud concentrations of chromium (660 mg/kg), arsenic (110 mg/kg) and mercury (1.2 mg/kg). The Hungarian Academy of Sciences, meanwhile, stated that heavy metal concentrations in the mud are not considered dangerous for the environment. Photo: Peter Kallo | 2010
Seeing Red
Sharing the burden: Hungary, activating the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, requested urgent international assistance on October 7. The European Union’s Monitoring and Information Centre communicated the request for expert assistance to the 30 participating countries (27 EU member states, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). Photo: Peter Kallo | 2010
Seeing Red
Tough road ahead: The Hungarian Government has estimated that cleanup efforts will take at least a year and cost tens of millions of dollars. Photo: Peter Kallo | 2010
Seeing Red
Helping hands: As the military and volunteers contributed aid and assistance, a system of dykes was constructed hastily amidst fears that a second – and possibly more catastrophic – spill could occur. Photo: Peter Kallo | 2010
Seeing Red
Taking stock: The Hungarian Government has seized control of MAL Hungarian Aluminium for a period of at least two years. Prime Minister Viktor Orban accused the company of “criminal negligence leading to a public catastrophe”. Photo: Peter Kallo | 2010
Seeing Red
Up against it: In addition to tightening various regulations to prevent a similar industrial accident in the future, the Hungarian Government also plans to provide compensation enhanced job security for victims. Meanwhile, the aluminium plant reopened on October 15, and many displaced individuals have now returned to Kolontar and Devecser. Photo: Peter Kallo | 2010
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