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Poland100 tonnes of dead fish have been recovered from the oder
The environmental disaster affecting the river, especially on its Polish side, may be due to the cunningly dumped chemicals since Friday.
In recent years, the Oder has become known as a relatively clean river, with about 40 species of fish living there.
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Polish firefighters said on Tuesday they had recovered 100 tons of dead fish from the Oder River, which crosses Germany and Poland, reinforcing the sense of an environmental disaster. “We’ve never done an operation of this magnitude on a river before,” said Monika Nowkowska-Trianda of the National Fire Service’s press office.Around 100 tonnes of dead fish have been recovered since Friday.
The cause of death is uncertain, but authorities suspect chemicals. “Large amounts of chemical waste may have been dumped into the river, with full knowledge of the dangers and consequences,” Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said last week.
Water samples are being tested in Poland and Germany, and have also been sent from Warsaw to laboratories in the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Warsaw under fire from critics
The first reports of mass fish kills in the Oder came from Polish locals and fishermen as early as July 28. German officials accused Polish officials of not informing them of the deaths, and were surprised when a wave of lifeless fish appeared. In Poland, the government has come under heavy criticism for not taking immediate action.
In recent years, the Oder has become known as a relatively clean river, with about 40 species of fish living there. According to Monika Nowkowska-Trianda, more than 500 firefighters are involved in the clean-up operation.
(AFP)
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