Police investigate fish deaths in Nam Dan pond

On April 26, Nam Dan district authorities said they were investigating the suspected cause of water pollution that led to the death of fish raised by several households on farms in Nam Anh commune (Nam Dan district).

Recently, many people in Nam Anh commune said that the water from the stream originating from Dai Hue mountain through the residential area bordering Nam Anh and Nam Xuan communes (Nam Dan district) flows into the irrigation ditches with a reddish-yellow color and an unpleasant odor. This water flows into the fish ponds, killing the fish.

Fish raised in ponds at a farm in the San Doi area (Nam Anh commune, Nam Dan district) died and floated white on the water surface. Photo:Khanh An

Mr. Ho Viet Linh (in Nam Anh commune) reported: “Recently, turmeric yellow water from the residential area was discharged into the ditch and mixed with irrigation water from the Dao River pumped into the pond in the San Doi area, causing our fish to die en masse, the total number of fish must be tons. In addition, fish and snails naturally in the rice fields also died. People are very upset and hope that the authorities will find the cause, handle it thoroughly, and protect the environment.”

Faced with the above situation, on April 23, Nam Dan District Police (Nghe An) went to the farms to conduct field inspections and took samples of yellow and red water for testing and investigation.

Wastewater from residential areas flowing into irrigation canals is reddish-yellow. Photo: Khanh An

Mr. Ho Viet Sy - Chairman of Nam Anh Commune People's Committee said: This is the border area between Nam Xuan and Nam Anh communes, so it is very difficult to find the cause of which households discharged yellow and red water. Three starch production cooperatives in Nam Anh commune all have wastewater treatment systems. Currently, Nam Dan district police have stepped in, taking water samples to clarify, so we are waiting for the results from the police.