WA: Esmaralda says Hungary disaster has been exaggerated

AAP General News (Australia)
02-10-2000
WA: Esmaralda says Hungary disaster has been exaggerated

The Australian company at the centre of an environmental disaster in Hungary says the
incident has been grossly exaggerated.

Esmaralda Exploration chair BRETT MONTGOMERY says there's no evidence to suggest reports
of dead fish are attributable to the overflow of the dam at the Baia Mare gold mine in
Romania and blames a number of unrelated events.

About 100,000 cubic metres of cyanide tainted water flowed into the Szamos and Somes
streams and later into the Tisza River - Hungary's second biggest after the Danube - after
overflowing from a tailings dam at the year-old mine on January 30.

The spill has caused the deaths of an estimated 10 tonnes of fish, and has affected
the drinking water of some 2.5 million people.

Mr MONTGOMERY says he's certain the company won't be forced to wind up because of the disaster.

He doesn't expect there will be any compensation claims out of Hungary or Romania arising
from the incident.

AAP RTV sd/as/jn

KEYWORD: HUNGARY CYANIDE (PERTH)

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