Hungary spill plant to restart despite warnings

Budapest (Reuters) Hungary was expected to restart the plant that flooded parts of the country with toxic sludge and resettle villagers on contaminated land late last night, despite warnings from environmentalists that the area may not be safe.

The government, which has seized control of the plant, said it would restart it late last night. Disaster crews said people evacuated from the nearby village of Kolontar would be allowed to move back to their homes.

"Greenpeace Hungary asks the government to suspend the plan to restart production at the plant until the causes of the disaster are clarified and environmental and health risks decrease significantly," the environmental group said.

Villagers would be allowed to return and were advised to wear a dust mask at all times, Gyorgyi Tottos, a spokeswoman for disaster crews, said.

She said the northern wall of the reservoir, which cracked on Saturday prompting the evacuation, had not shown further dislocation yesterday.