Quang Ngai investigates massive fish deaths

Quang Ngai (VNA) – A working delegation from the central province of Quang Ngai’s husbandry and animal health department on October 23 collected dead fish samples for testing to find out the cause of the recent massive fish deaths in Binh Son district.

Nguyen Dinh Tuan, head of the department, said his agency will send these samples to the Animal Health Agency Zone 4 in Da Nang for testing.

Fish farmers in the area of Ho Chuoi Lake, Binh Trung commune are concerned about thousands of dead fish, which are polluting a local lake.

A foul smell emanated from the dead fish, which were covered by flies in the lake, the Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reported.

Pham Tan Thanh, a resident, told the newspaper that poultry (chickens and ducks) belonging to locals died after eating the dead fish that washed up ashore near their residential areas.

Mass fish deaths have occurred a few times in recent years, but not in such high numbers as this time, another resident told the newspaper.

Resident Cu Van Hung said the fish started dying after heavy rainfall last week. “It’s strange,” he said.

Fish farmer Do Thi Van, who is raising some 20,000 carp, grass carp and tench fish at home, said she lost some 100kg of fish per day, which resulted in financial loses of millions of dong.

“The polluted water flowed from the lake into my pond so fast, I didn’t know how to prevent it,” she said.-VNA