Masses of sardines were found dead, floating on the surface at Cua Lo Beach, Nghe An Province.
The smell of the rotting sardines was intense and hundreds of locals came there to collect as many as possible and use them for feeding their animals or selling them in the market.
Locals presumed that perhaps the fish had perished because fishermen used mines to catch them offshore. Thus, they thought it would not be harmful to use the fish for food or sell them in the market.
According to civilians, on September 9, they found a small amount of sardines that had perished near the beach. By September 10, huge amounts of dead sardines covered about 4 kilometres of the beach.
On the late afternoon of September 10, local authorities and people made efforts to collect the dead fish with an aim of making the environment fresh again at the beach.
Le Minh Thong, chairman of the People’s Committee of Cua Lo Town said, “The exact cause for the massive death has not been identified clearly. However, the fish were likely killed because fishermen had used mines to kill them offshore. That’s why they were found dead in huge amounts.”
Local authorities have recommended that people not use the dead fish for food or sell them in the market. They should be avoided to prevent food poisoning.
