In the past few days, the Red River’s water has turned into dark blue from its traditional redness and the river stinks badly as water level is dropping sharply.
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Red River or Song Hong is the most famous river in the north, being named after the water’s time-honored redness.
But by the morning of February 17, the dark blue water appeared, having spread 10km from Coc Leu Bridge to Xuan Tang ward in Lao Cai province.
Some fishermen said they couldn’t catch any fish in the past few days from the blue waters.
Pham Van Hung, a resident living at Coc Leu former ferry station near the river, told Tuoi Tre that although he closed the door, but he couldn’t bear the horrible smell seeping in from the river.
“I have little appetite left due to the smell,” he added.
Like Hung, many residents living in Coc Leu ward alongside the river banks also complain about the unbearable odor.
The water was reported on February 14 to be normal with a pH level ranging from 6,5-7.
However since the morning of February 15, pH has increased up to 8, according to Luu Minh Hai, deputy director of Lao Cai northern province’s Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.
According to him, the river is suffering from serious pollution caused by organic wastes.
