VietNamNet Bridge – A stream on August 19 turned red in Thanh Hung commune, Dien Bien District in Dien Bien Province. Local residents said this was the first time it had happened.

Pham Van Bach, Vice Chairman of Dien Bien district, said that local authorities had sent water samples to laboratories for testing.

Inspecting the area around the stream, the local government found a drum suspected of containing a chemical that changed the color of the water.

"We immediately moved the drum out of the stream and after several hours the water was no longer red," Bach said.

The local authorities are investigating the incident.

This is a small stream in originating from the forest and flowing through the fields of local residents and then to the Nam Rom River.

There are no factories at the stream-head and the stream water is not used by local people for daily activities.

Thuy Ha