Hungary has declared a state of emergency in three western counties today following a spill of toxic alumina sludge that has killed three people and injured more than 100.
The counties of Veszprem, Gyor-Moson-Sopron and Vas counties are affected.
The disaster began yesterday when the dam of a sludge reservoir burst at the huge Ajkai Timfoldgyar Zrt plant, flooding parts of three villages.
The National Disaster Unit (NDU) denied a report the sludge reservoir's dam had broken at a second point, saying crews were pouring plaster into a nearby river to help neutralise the spill.
"We have poured multiple tonnes of plaster into the Marcal River and hope to stem the toxic flow that way. The toxicity of the sludge moderates with every kilometre," said NDU spokeswoman Gyorgyi Tottos
The ambulance service had reported that 116 people have been injured, eight seriously and one critically. They have been transferred to nearby hospitals.