THE mighty Danube was apparently absorbing Hungary’s massive toxic red sludge spill with little immediate harm, officials reported yesterday – even though the amount of caustic slurry spewed over the western part of the country was nearly as great as the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Officials in Hungary have said the size of the toxic sludge disaster is almost as big as that of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The toxic red sludge overflow from a Hungarian factory which destroyed three villages today reached the Danube, Europe’s second-longest river.

HUNGARY’S top investigative agency opened a criminal probe into the toxic sludge flood yesterday while the European Union and environmental groups warned the disaster could spread down the Danube and have long-term consequences for several nations.