THE toxic red sludge that burst out of a Hungarian factory’s reservoir and inundated three villages reached the mighty Danube yesterday after wreaking havoc on smaller rivers and creeks, an emergency official said.

HUNGARY declared a state of emergency in three counties yesterday after a flood of toxic red sludge from an alumina plant engulfed several towns and burned people through their clothes. One official called it “an ecological disaster” that may threaten the Danube and other key rivers.

Hungary declared a state of emergency in three counties today after a flood of toxic red sludge from a chemical plant engulfed several towns.

A strong earthquake jolted eastern Indonesia, killing a woman, damaging dozens of buildings and sending panicked residents fleeing to higher ground shouting: “tsunami!”.