VietNamNet Bridge – Tens of tons of dead fish have been taken out of HCM City’s symbolic Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe canal after the downpour on the afternoon of May 16. At a press conference on May 17, city authorities said the fish had been killed by toxic waste, which flowed into the canal via rainwater.

Director of the HCM City Department of Agriculture and Rural Development - Nguyen Phuoc Trung – told reporters at the press conference yesterday that the agency immediately collected dead fish and waste samples for analysis.

He said the unexpected downpours on May 16 swept away toxic waste from the streets and sewers to the canal, causing pollution.

The high concentrations of harmful substances as NH3, NH4 and the reduction of oxygen were the major causes of massive fish deaths. This phenomenon may continue after the next 1 or 2 heavy rains and it will only end when the aquatic environment becomes stable. Two years ago, after the first rains, fish died but not as many as this year.

Caption: An official speaks about biochemical indicators at the press conference. Photo:

Trung said the city will immediately treat the water to stop the death of fish, including pouring chemicals in the canal to reduce the pH and increase oxygen.

The Department of Agriculture & Rural Development sprayed 900 kg of zeolite to clean up the environment. The entire amount of dead fish will be treated at the Da Phuoc landfill. Today, May 18, the agency will spread another 5 tons of zeolite to the canal.

Mr. Nguyen Toan Thang, Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of HCM City, said 16 boats were used to fish out over 14 tons of dead fish from the canal.

Thang said the city will build facilities to treat wastewater discharged by households to the Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe Canal to reduce pollution in the early rainy season.

Dead fish in Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal on May 16:

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Workers fished out dead fish from Nhieu Loc Canal on the evening of May 17:

More than 100 workers fished out dead fish from the canal on May 17 evening.      They worked all night.    Fuel is ready for boats.    Have a break   Cleaning the area where dead fish gathered.    After transporting a batch of dead fish, all vehicles are decontaminated.    A worker eats a loaf of bread at night.      Take a rest   Some people still fish at night

Thanh Lan