Everyone participating in the rescue effort, including members of the defence forces, passed the test with distinction at the time of the red sludge disaster, the Defence Minister said at a conference held on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the sludge flood.
Defence Minister István Simicskó highlighted at the conference organised by the Science Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences: a tragedy occurred through human omission, and it is particularly important to sum up the experiences accumulated during the course of the rescue effort.
The Minister pointed out: this draws our attention to the fact that we must prepare for preventing and managing similar incidents. The available constitutional options provide adequate authorisation for remedying any possible trouble that we may have experienced to date, but there may be situations – such as the migration crisis – which called for additional statutory authorisation, he said, and added: guaranteeing the security of the Hungarian people is the number one priority, be that in the event of a red sludge disaster or mass migration.
Mr Simicskó further pointed out that the Hungarian defence forces actively participated in rescuing people, set up a mobile laboratory, built a new bridge on the Torna stream, and stood their ground as they now do at our borders.
It testifies to the true strength of community that life in Devecser and Kolontár has been restored to its normal course, he said in summary.
György Bakondi, the Prime Minister’s senior advisor said that this was one of the dark hours of Hungarian history: damage on an enormous scale was caused to human lives, health and material possessions. The Hungarian Government responded without delay, and the professional rescue forces, the fire brigade, the police and the military immediately started the rescue effort, he added.
Mr Bakondi highlighted: ten people lost their lives in consequence of the sludge flood, 286 people needed medical attention, the number of those who sustained material losses reached 730, and at the peak of the tragedy, some 4,000 people took part in the intervention. The flora and fauna of the Torna stream were destroyed, 1,017 hectares of agricultural land was flooded by the red sludge, and more than 360 residential buildings were damaged.
An unprecedented instance of social unity was manifested already during the hours of the rescue effort, and at the Government’s request, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences provided ongoing advice regarding rescue and defence with extraordinary speed as of the first few hours, he stressed.
Mr Bakondi reiterated: the Hungarian Government adopted a decision on a reconstruction-rehabilitation project, 306 private properties were refurbished, 111 new properties were built, homes were purchased for 129 families, cash compensation was provided for 72 families, and the culpable company, Magyar Alumínium Termelő és Kereskedelmi (Mal) Zrt. was transferred under state supervision for a year.
Mr Bakondi expressed his appreciation to those who participated in the rescue work, as well as to those who contributed to helping the people in trouble.
Károly Kontrát, Minister of State of the Ministry of Interior stressed that exemplary national cohesion was forged in the wake of the disaster. He reiterated: the Ajka fire brigade and ambulance service immediately rushed to the site, „the country was mobilised overnight, and everyone felt like they were from Devecser and Kolontár”.
The Minister of State has kept track of the everyday lives of those living in the region ever since, and relayed the gratitude of the locals for all the help they received. He mentioned as an example that the Devecser police station was inaugurated in 2011, and the centre and communal spaces of the locality were also refurbished. He added at the same time that the truth still remains to be uncovered: those responsible for the disaster have yet to be identified. Facing the truth would help process the consequences, he said in the name of the locals.
László Lovász, President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, described the incident as Hungary’s largest industrial natural disaster which has become a sad symbol of human negligence, environmental pollution and preventable tragedies.
The ecological disaster would have been even graver, had it not been for the National Directorate for Disaster Management, the units of the defence forces, and the community of scientists and researchers, he said. He reiterated: at the request of the National Directorate for Disaster Management, scientists from the Academy made recommendations already the day after the disaster regarding the localisation of the pollution, the cleansing of the soil, and the localised neutralisation of the red sludge in the interest of the protection of the agricultural areas.
Mr Lovász stressed: a further conclusion of the incident is that it is wise to give up the illusion of invulnerability. We must face up to the potential emergencies of the future without fear. The accumulated knowledge of researchers, ongoing measurements, the will of decision-makers, legal codification and effective controls may result in the names of Kolontár, Devecser and Somlóvásárhely becoming a symbol of the will to help, joint action and hope, he said.
Tibor Tollár, Director General of the National Directorate for Disaster Management, described the disaster which occurred as unprecedented regarding its significance in Europe, in the wake of which the entire system of disaster protection has been renewed. The new legislation has confirmed: the management of disaster protection is a duty of the State, and consequently the fire brigade units which had formerly been under municipal supervision were transferred under central management, were given new responsibilities, and were reinforced with industrial security units. The rehabilitation costs in the wake of the disaster amounted to over HUF 37 billion, and a contaminated area of 267 hectares was neutralised in the localities.
On 4 October 2010 red sludge pouring out of the reservoir of Mal Zrt. near Ajka flooded three localities: Kolontár, Devecser and Somlóvásárhely. Ten people died, more than two hundred were injured, and hundreds of buildings became uninhabitable in consequence of the disaster. Charges were pressed against 15 individuals, the executives and several employees of the company, due to public hazard causing death, and other crimes, and a number of lawsuits were also instituted under civil law.
The uncut version of the video recording made of the event can be downloaded in the Press Room.