Hungarian Sludge Spill Is Captured in NASA Satellite Photo

A new satellite image released by NASA shows the extent of the toxic sludge spilled after a waste-retaining wall broke at the Ajkai Timföldgyár alumina plant in southern Hungary on Oct. 4. In the image, a red-orange streak measuring several miles is visible running west from the plant following the spill that sent a torrent of waste down a local stream, inundating several towns — including Kolontar and Devecser, where sludge reached heights of 6 ½ feet in places, swamped fields, filled homes, and forced the evacuation of hundreds of people. The bright blue and red reservoirs of the plant are visible on the right side of the image, as is the point where the retaining wall broke. The red sludge is one of the byproducts in the refining of bauxite into alumina, which is used in the production of aluminum and other products. Environmentalists say the toxic effects of heavy metals seeping into nearby fields will be felt for decades.