匈牙利西部一間製鋁工廠的廢棄物儲存池4日下午發生爆裂，含有化學物質的紅色污泥淹沒庫隆塔村(Kolontár)，造成4位民眾死亡，其中包括2名幼童，分別為1歲與3歲，是一對姐妹。
庫隆塔村長提力(Karoly Tily)向匈牙利國家通訊社(MTI)表示，4名罹難者都是當地居民，搜救隊員仍在搜尋獲報失蹤的另外4名人員。
當地約有80至90人被送往醫院，他們的皮膚與眼睛遭到化學灼傷，有6人傷勢嚴重。匈牙利國家災害管理局表示，苛性泥漿(caustic sludge)是煉鋁製程中的廢棄物，含有重金屬，若攝入體內會導致中毒。
這起意外發生在阿賈克鎮(Ajka)的Ajkai Timfoldgyar廠，位置在首都布達佩斯西南方160公里處。該廠隸屬於匈牙利馬札爾鋁業公司(MAL)。
廢棄物儲存池破裂時，至少有60萬立方米的含鋁污泥流出。但造成此意外事故的原因仍然不明。
根據國防部消息，軍方已派出車輛、2架直升機與40名軍人投入搜救工作。
國家災害管理局表示，他們從淹沒的村莊中救出110位民眾，而390位居民已被安置到其它地方。
國家通訊社駐地通訊員5日早上報導，臨近的Devecser鎮中有多個區域，紅色污泥仍堆積約2公尺深，而該鎮有230戶房屋遭到淹沒。
Devecser鎮長Tamas Toldi告訴通訊社，警方在人員已疏散的建築物外維持警戒，並且已在學校設置臨時收容所，提供40名當地居民與搜救人員使用。
Devecser鎮大多地方的瓦斯、電力與用水供應已經切斷，但鎮長表示，他希望5日即可恢復供應。
災害管理單位發言人說，已在3個不同地點將大量酸性液體倒入Marcal河中，以中和淹沒該區域的鹼性化學泥漿。
譯註：匈牙利5日宣佈，西部三縣進入緊急狀態，並勒令製鋁工廠停工。原本誤認最小的罹難者為3個月大的嬰孩，但匈牙利國家通訊社已在5日作出更正。
Four people have died, including a three-month baby, after the waste reservoir of an aluminum plant burst Monday afternoon in western Hungary, flooding the village of Kolontar with red chemical sludge.(註)
Kolontar Mayor Karoly Tily told the state newswire MTI that all four victims were Kolontar residents and rescue workers are still searching for another four people who are reported missing.
Between 80 and 90 people have been taken to hospital with chemical burns to skin and eyes, including six who were seriously injured. The Hungarian National Disaster Management Directorate said the caustic sludge, a waste product in aluminum production, contains heavy metals and is toxic if ingested.
The incident occurred at the Ajkai Timfoldgyar plant owned by MAL Magyar Aluminium in the town of Ajka, 160 kilometers (100 miles) southwest of the capital, Budapest.
At least 600,000 cubic meters (yards) of the aluminum sludge spilled out when the waste impoundment broke. The cause of the incident is still unknown.
Army vehicles, two helicopters and 40 soldiers were deployed for search and rescue efforts, according to the defense ministry.
The national disaster directorate said 390 residents have been relocated and 110 were rescued from the flooded villages.
The red sludge still stands around two meters high in several areas of the nearby town of Devecser, where 230 houses were flooded, a local MTI correspondent reported this morning.
Devecser Mayor Tamas Toldi told MTI that police are keeping guard at evacuated buildings and temporary shelters have been set up in schools for about 40 local residents and rescue workers.
Gas, electricity and water supplies have been cut off in most of Devecser but the mayor said he expects the services to be reconnected today.
A disaster management authority spokesperson said acidic liquid has been poured into the River Marcal at three different locations in order to neutralize the alkaline chemical sludge that has flooded the area.
全文及圖片詳見：ENS報導
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