This was the tiny Hungarian village of Kolontar one year ago.
Its streets were filled with toxic red sludge, which burst through a reservoir at a nearby factory.
The torrent killed 10 and injured 120 - making it Hungary's worst ecological disaster.
Now, exactly one year on, Kolontar has largely been rebuilt.
But residents, many of whom were forced from their homes, are still struggling to come to terms with what they lost.
(SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) RESIDENT JOZSEF HOLCZER, SAYING:
"I cannot forget it. It's impossible to erase it from my mind. Those who were not here and did not live through it cannot imagine what it was like. Unfortunately I know."
It was in October 2010 that this holding pond outside an alumunium factory ruptured.
Sludge quickly swept over three towns, leaked into rivers and covered acres of farmland.
The company that owns the factory -Hungarian Aluminum - was fined 632 million U.S. dollars and several employees are under investigation.
But environmental activists say there are dozens of other toxic waste dumps across Eastern Europe and the potential for another disaster remains.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) GREENPEACE CAMPAIGNER BALAZS TOMORI, SAYING:
"There is no guarantees still that a next Kolontar, another toxic waste problem can occur in the Carpathian Basin. Not only in Hungary but in the region, in the ex-Socialist bloc. The region is full of toxic waste deposits, legal or illegal, which can mean threat to environment and people."
To help with cleanups like this, Hungary has suggested the European Union create a special fund. Officials say they would need up to 7 billion euros to get it going.
Andrew Raven, Reuters