Brussels, 11/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - Following a call for aid on Thursday and as a second flood of red, alkaline sludge is feared in Hungary, a team of five pollution experts from the European Union will be at work on Monday 11 October 2010 to help Hungary deal with this major industrial accident.
The experts have been sent by Germany, Austria, Belgium, France and Sweden and were selected because of their relevant experience in the field and skills that match the needs of the Hungarian authorities. They were mobilised using the EU's Civil Protection Mechanism (see EUROPE 10232).
The generosity of the 31 countries in the CPM (the EU27 plus Croatia, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) exceeded expectations because a total of 40 experts were put forward by ten countries. EU Crisis Response Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva said it was a sign of European solidarity at work.
The European experts will assess the impact of the polluted mud that leaked into the river on 4 October, paying particular attention to farm land, surface water, the water table, fauna and flora. They will advise on the possibilities of prevention, mitigation and reduction of negative environmental impacts caused by alkali sludge; provide expert opinion on the optimal solution of decontamination of sludge in urban and agricultural area; and assess further needs, anticipate risks and suggest solutions with regard to the rehabilitation of nature, the agricultural and urban land affected.
Their expertise will be particularly valuable because of the walls of the sludge tank containing highly toxic waste from the bauxite factory in Ajka is threatening to give way. The team will be coordinated by the European Commission's MIC (Monitoring and Information Centre), who has been in the area since Saturday. (A.N. trans fl)