The manager of an alcohol factory under Quang Ngai Sugar Company admitted that they released “a little” untreated wastewater into the Tra Khuc River.
Local people surrounded by an abundance of dead fish
On May 5, leaders from Quang Ngai Province directed the provincial Department of Natural Resources & Environment and the Department of Agriculture & Rural Development to coordinate with provincial police for investigating the reasons behind massive fish deaths along Tra Khuc River. It is necessary to report the investigation results to provincial authorities no later than May 7.
The inspection group went to the scene to collect samples of the water and dead fish for testing. They also checked wastewater processing systems of factories which are under the control of the Quang Ngai Sugar Company. Leaders from the company denied that untreated wastewater from their factories had caused the fish deaths.
However, Vo Van Nha, Manager of the Alcohol Factory confessed that some water was released when his workers removed and cleaned equipment from April 29-30. Authorities are investigating whether this contributed to the dead fish.
57,956 cubic metres per day of untreated wastewater flow into the river.
Huynh Tan Dung, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Tinh Long Commune, Quang Ngai Province, said that on May 3 local people found some dead fish, crabs, and eels on a part of Tra Khuc River which is located at Tang Long Hamlet, Tinh Long Commune.
In the evening of the same day, dead fish covered 3km of the river and created repulsive odors.
As estimated, this incident will influence the livelihood of 300 families who rely on fishing to earn a living.
Many local people believed that a shortage of freshwater and wastewater discharged from Quang Phu Industrial Zone into the river caused the fish to die.
