Devecser (Hungary): Officials in Hungary say no new cracks have been detected overnight on the north wall of the red sludge reservoir which was thought to be close to collapse and that the situation is "hopeful."
Disaster agency spokesman Tibor Dobson has told a newswire on Sunday that the older cracks are being repaired but that it is too soon to consider lowering the current state of alert. Protective walls also are being built around the reservoir's damaged area to hold back any further spills.
At least seven people have died and one is missing in the wake of Monday's flood which engulfed several towns in western Hungary after a corner of the gigantic reservoir of a metals plant gave way and released around 700,000 cubic meters (184 million gallons) of caustic red sludge.
Bureau Report
First Published: Sunday, October 10, 2010, 12:50