Disaster for Doñana - a Spanish World Heritage Site
Monday, 27 April 1998
At 3.30 AM on Saturday 25th April 1998 the south coast of Spain was host to what has been dubbed the worst environmental disaster in Europe.
A supporting wall of the reservoir containing the toxic wastes of the Aznalcollar mine burst, releasing 5 million cubic metres of toxic mud and acidic water onto the surrounding landscape. The toxic waste entered the Agrio River, a tributary of the Guadiamar River, which feeds the swamps of the Guadalquivir situated within Doñana National Park and the Natural Park of the Environment of Doñana.
The Natural Park is a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, as well as part of UNESCO's global network of Biosphere Reserves.
Monday, 27 April 1998