Shocking footage: Red liquid bubbling up from cattle buried after foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Hungary

A recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Hungary has led to the culling and burial of over 3,000 cattle near Hegyeshalom, sparking environmental and public health concerns. The burial site, located in the rural area of Csemeztanya, has become the focus of controversy after disturbing images and videos surfaced online showing dark fluids seeping from the ground where the animals were interred.

Foot-and-mouth: Shocking videos surfaced

The videos, widely shared on social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok, depict liquid byproducts of decomposition bubbling to the surface from shallow burial pits. Local residents fear that scavenging animals might dig up the remains, potentially spreading the disease further. The situation has also raised alarm over possible contamination of groundwater, as Csemeztanya lacks a modern sewage system and relies on wells for drinking water, Telex writes.

Authorities have responded by increasing security around the site to prevent unauthorised access. Dr. Szabolcs Pásztor, Hungary’s chief veterinarian, emphasised that the disposal process adheres to strict veterinary protocols. He explained that the decomposition of such a large number of animals inevitably produces gases and fluids, some of which may reach the surface despite efforts to mitigate this with absorbent materials like straw.

Local residents remain unconvinced. László Nyul, a resident living just a few hundred meters from the burial site, expressed deep concern for his family’s safety and property value. “We moved here for peace and quiet, but this situation has made living here unbearable,” he said. Nyul was briefly detained by police after a video he shared went viral, though he denies filming it himself.