Disturbing videos circulating on social media reportedly depict a site near Hegyeshalom, Hungary, where thousands of cattle have been buried following a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

One video shows an individual entering an area cordoned off with yellow tape, revealing what appear to be animal carcasses and signs of blood on the ground.

Another clip captures a fluid bubbling up from the earth's surface.

Heavy machinery is visible at the site, but there is no evidence of security personnel guarding the area.

According to reports, the footage was taken at the site known as Csemeztanya.

In response to the incident, the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Food Chain Safety Office were contacted for clarification.

While the Ministry did not answer multiple inquiries, it did issue a statement indicating that the videos could indeed have been filmed at Csemeztanya, confirming that the bubbling fluid is a result of decomposing animals.

In a statement attributed to Chief Veterinarian Szabolcs Pásztor, the Ministry stressed the importance of adhering to animal health regulations as a critical measure to control the spread of the highly infectious foot-and-mouth disease virus.

It emphasized that unauthorized access to the designated containment area is forbidden and constitutes a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment.

Pásztor noted that the management of the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Lével is proceeding systematically and according to regulations, with the disposal of culled animals still ongoing at the designated site.

It will take several days for the burial pit to be fully secured, as the carcasses undergo anaerobic decomposition, resulting in the formation of gases and liquids.

The released gases escape from the soil, while certain absorbent materials, such as several tons of straw, capture the resulting fluids.

Throughout the removal process, the surfaces of the carcasses are continuously disinfected, though large-scale decomposition of animal remains leads to the production of significant quantities of byproducts.

This can result in the release of gases and fluids to the surface, aligning with observations made in the videos.

The Chief Veterinarian highlighted that the disposal area has been under surveillance, a situation that has now been reinforced due to the breach of the fenced-off zone.

Successful containment of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak requires strict compliance with all regulations, including the prohibition of unauthorized entry into designated areas.

Foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed in the cattle herd in Lével in late March, leading to the culling of 3,000 animals.

In response to the outbreak, the government has established an operational task force.