The Oder River running through Germany and Poland sees thousands of fish dead on Beach due to chemical dumps.
Fish float on the banks of Germany near the eastern town of Schwidt is believed to have washed upstream from Poland where first Reports of It was a mass fish mortality made By locals and anglers as early as July 28.
German officials accused the Polish authorities of He didn’t inform them of the deaths, and they were surprised at the wave of A lifeless fish came floating in the view.
in Poland , government she has also You are under severe criticism for Not taking quick action.
Almost two weeks after first dead Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said the fish appeared to be floating in Polish villages on Friday that “everyone thought at first it was local problem. “
But he admitted that “the scope of The disaster is too big, big enough to say that Oder will need years to restore it to its normal state.”
“Maybe huge amounts of Chemical waste was dumped into the river in full Knowledge of The risk and consequences,” added The Polish leader, with German Environment Minister Steffi Lemke urging a thorough investigation of what she called an “environmental disaster”.
Standing on the riverbank, Michael Tautenhan, Vice President of Lower Oder Valley National Park in Germany, looks in dread in the river on German-Polish border.
“We’re standing up on German side – we have dead “Catch fish everywhere,” he told AFP.
“I was so shocked… I have a feeling I’m seeing decades of work He lies in havoc here. I see our livelihood, water – this is our life,” noting that this is not the case just The fish that died, but also Mussels and countless other aquatic organisms.
“that it just information of iceberg” added.
Oder has over The last The years have been known as the relatively clean river, 40 native species of fish make them home in waterway.
But now, a lifeless fish – some like small A few centimeters, others reach 30-40 cm in length – they can be seen across the river. Every once in a while, these are still struggling Flipping can be seen to pull it up in Water, apparently panting for air.
Officials believe the fish may have been poisoned.
“This fish death Axel Vogel said, environment minister for The state of Brandenburg, estimates that “tons without a doubt” of The fish died.
fish death Often caused by distortion of He explained that oxygen levels are when water levels are very low.
“But ours is completely different test resultsThat is, we increased the level of oxygen in the river for For several days, this indicates the introduction of a foreign substance that led to this.”
Tests are in progress in Germany to establish the substance that may have led to the deaths.
Early reports have indicated that there are indications of Extremely high levels of Mercury. But another batch of primary results chest on Friday evening showed unusually high levels of salt.
The authorities said it was inconclusive, and this is further than that test results on Heavy metals and mercury were outstanding.
in Poland, prosecutors You have also The investigation began after the fall of the authorities fire over what or what critics He said it was a slow response to disaster.
Tautenhahn said that the disaster is likely to have consequences for Next years.
“If it was a quick silver, it would be also stay here for And for a long time,” indicating that mercury does not disintegrate, but rather disintegrates then remain in sediment;
