Environment
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| Fish die en mass in West Lake. — Photo news.zing.vn |
Viet Nam News
HÀ NỘI — Oxygen depletion is allegedly responsible for killing tonnes of fish in West Lake since Saturday night in Hà Nội.
Nguyễn Ngọc Lý, director of the Centre for Environmental and Community Research, said algal blooms in the hot weather and water pollution [caused by household wastewater discharged into the lake] were suspected to be behind the fish deaths.
When algae died, the decomposition used oxygen in the water that is vital for fish. Small fish, in particular, were unable to survive due to the sudden decrease in oxygen, she added.
In response to the situation, the Hà Nội administration yesterday quickly directed the Hà Nội Urban Environment One Member Co Ltd to install 20 aeration devices to provide oxygen to save fish in the lake, with the company’s staff working overnight.
Nguyễn Hữu Tiến, director of the company, said the company also sent 50 employees to remove the dead fish and 20 trucks to transport the fish to the Nam Sơn Waste Treatment Complex for treatment according to regulations.
Until last night, it was estimated that some 10 tonnes of dead fish had been salvaged. This morning too, dead fish has been still found.
Meanwhile, staff from the city’s health department have been dispatched to spray chemicals to sterilise areas around the lake.
Environmental police have also taken samples of the dead fish and the lake’s water to conduct tests.
The city administration has warned residents to avoid eating the dead fish until authorised agencies issue the final conclusion of whether or not toxic substance is present in the dead fish. — VNS
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| A corner of West Lake with dead fish. — Photo news.zing.vn |
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| People salvage dead fish in West Lake. — Photo VNA/VNS Minh Đức |
