Hungary’s largest ecological disaster occurred on October 4, 2010, when the western dam of a sludge reservoir ruptured. The reservoir, privately owned by Hungarian Aluminum Co., is located about 160 km. (about 100 miles) from Budapest, and is part of a plant that produces aluminum from bauxite ore. The rupture of the dam resulted in a mixture of 700,000 cubic meters of toxic, red sludge and wastewater flooding the lower sections of the settlements of Kolontar, Devecser, and Somlovasarhely via the Torna creek.
Nine people died and 120 were injured from the sludge, which is a highly caustic by-product of the aluminum production process. The runaway toxic waste inundated 800 hectares of the surrounding area. The most extreme devastation was caused in the villages of Devecser and Kolontar, which are located near the reservoir. In Kolontar alone, the sludge flooded 400 homes. The long-term environmental effects are still unknown.
The damage recovery is in progress and requires huge amounts of funding. Sunrider IBOs in Hungary are actively collecting and donating money for the victims of the disaster. In conjunction with the Hungarian Red Cross Association, a money collecting bin has also been set up in Sunrider Hungary’s customer service area. To help the victims, Dr. Chen and Mrs. Chen have pledged to match the total amount collected through Sunrider donations with their own money.
For information about how to support Sunrider’s disaster relief efforts, please contact:
Sunrider Hungary
H-1139 Budapest, Vaci ut 99, Hungary
Telephone: 36-1-350-5373
Fax: 36-1-350-5374
E-Mail: sunrider@sunrider.hu
Thank you.
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