The toxic sludge that flowed after an alumina plant exploded in Hungary has reached the Danube River, officials have announced.

On Monday, about 600,000-700,000 cu m of chemical sludge escaped from the Ajkai Timfoldgyar plant, when a reservoir broke and flooded some villages with toxic red mud.

The sludge is said to contain caustic material and to be toxic if ingested, the BBC has reported.

The sludge has reached the Marcal River, which flows into the River Raba, which empties into the Danube, the CNN reported.

However, Hungarian officials have stated that the toxic sludge has been reduced to a level that is unlikely to cause damages to the environment. They have also said it would take at least a year to clean up the spill.

Bulgaria's Environment Ministry has announced that analysis of water samples from the Danube had shown typical values of active reaction, water temperature, oxygen saturation and electrical conductivity.

The Executive Environmental Agency has began monitoring the quality of the water in the Bulgarian section as part of the measures taken by the Bulgarian Environment Ministry after the sludge flood in Hungary was announced.

Two children, aged 1 and 3, an elderly woman and a 35-year-old man have died and 6 people went missing in the disaster, which occurred 160 km west of Budapest, near the town of Ajka, the CNN has reported.

Three Hungarian counties have announced state of emergency - Veszprem, Gyor-Moson-Sopron and Vas.

Troops in protected gear have been helping clean up the spill. Teams for chemical protection, firefighters and soldiers have been evacuating the area of the accident.

390 residents had to be temporarily relocated and 110 had to be rescued from the flooded villages.

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