# can someone refresh my memory of this disaster? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 26, 2014, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-refresh-my-memory-of-this-disaster/682361 "2014-02-26T22:56:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-refresh-my-memory-of-this-disaster/682361/1 "2014-02-26T22:56:38Z")
I was talking with a guy at work about the coal ash spill and the chemical spill in WV. I was reminded of a flood of some kind happened in the late 90s-early 2000s in which a containment dike holding back a reddish sludge burst. I’m pretty sure it was in Europe, maybe Poland or Romania. That’s all I remember, anyone know what I’m thinking of? ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-refresh-my-memory-of-this-disaster/682361/2 "2014-02-26T23:00:05Z")
Perhaps this one: > **[Kingston Fossil Plant coal fly ash slurry spill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingston_Fossil_Plant_coal_fly_ash_slurry_spill)** > > The Kingston Fossil Plant coal fly ash slurry spill was an environmental and industrial disaster that occurred on Monday December 22, 2008, when a dike ruptured at a coal ash pond at the Tennessee Valley Authority's Kingston Fossil Plant in Roane County, Tennessee, releasing 1.1 billion US gallons (4.2 million cubic metres) of coal fly ash slurry. The coal-fired power plant, located across the Clinch River from the city of Kingston, used a series of ponds to store and dewater the fly ash, a byp... It was in Tennessee, though. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-refresh-my-memory-of-this-disaster/682361/3 "2014-02-26T23:10:19Z")
[Hungary](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajka_alumina_plant_accident) ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-refresh-my-memory-of-this-disaster/682361/4 "2014-02-26T23:12:00Z")
Found it. It was in Hungary. [Magyar](http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/2010/10/hungarys-toxic-eco-disaster-seen-as-warning-signal/). It was 2010 so my timeline was way off. Thanks. Ah…beowulff answered while I was typing. Thanks again!