The toxic spill from the ecological accident in Hungary earlier this week has already started to affect the ecosystem of the main branch of the Danube river, with the first dead fish already found in the river, according to Tibor Dobson, the regional head of the Disaster Prevention service, quoted by AFP.  “I can confirm we have seen sporadic fish loss on the main branch of the Danube,” said Dobson.

The dead fish were found at the confluence of the Raab river with the Danube, where an alkaline level of 9.1 has been recorded. The normal alkaline level is of 8.

Romanian Environment Minister Laszlo Borbely has previously said the toxic residues from Hungary have not reached the Danube yet and when they will, on Friday evening, they will not be dangerous. “I spoke with the head of Hungarian Waters last night, who said the authorities there have built a dam to stop the toxic residues from spreading. The residues have not reached the Danube and when they will, they will not be dangerous,” said Borbely for a Romanian TV station.

AFP had previously reported that toxic residues from the ecological accident in Hungary earlier this week have reached the Danube on Thursday morning, threatening the river’s ecosystem, according to a water service representative in Hungary. The Romanian Environment Ministry has previously said there will be no pollution of Romania rivers for at least 24 hours after the accident.

The ecological accident in Hungary, which killed four, injured 100, while seven other people went missing on Monday evening, happened 160 kilometers away from Budapest. A residue deposits collector at an aluminum factory in Hungary broke on Monday, sending mud and chemical residues in three nearby localities. The toxic mud spill has affected inhabitants in those localities, who suffered skin burns. Four people died and more than 100 were injured in the disaster.

Romania-insider.com