The Hungarian alumina plant behind a deadly toxic sludge spill last week will resume production on Thursday or Friday, national disaster chief Gyorgy Bakondi announced here Wednesday.
"We have already switched on the industrial heating," Bakondi said in a joint press conference with Interior Minister Sandor Pinter.
"As soon as the system has reached its operational temperature level, we will resume production, on Thursday or Friday," he added.
Pinter meanwhile announced the authorities will lift the state of "evacuation readiness" in the town of Devecser at 1500 GMT on Wednesday.
This was put in place on Saturday, when the village of Kolontar, hardest-hit by the wave of toxic red mud from a breached reservoir at the alumina plant, was evacuated.
"Life is safe again in Devecser," Pinter said.
The residents of Kolontar will also be allowed to return to the village at the weekend.
"They must wait until Saturday, not because of any risk of a second flood, but because containment work is not entirely complete yet," said Pinter.
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