VietNamNet Bridge – At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, Hanoi’s Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung reported that about 200 tons of fish died in Hanoi’s West Lake in the past three days.

According to the National Committee for Search and Rescue, by late afternoon Monday, 76 tons of dead fish had been collected and destroyed. 

The authorities took water and fish samples from the lake for testing to investigate the cause of the problem.

Chairman Chung told the media on Tuesday that the city mobilized all forces to collect dead fish as fast as possible.

The fish deaths reportedly began on Saturday night, leaving the lake surface covered with a layer of floating dead fish. 

A preliminary report from the city People’s Committee said an initial quick test conducted on Sunday showed the oxygen level of lake surface water measured zero.

"All the dead fish in the lake died between Saturday and Sunday. After the city administration took prompt action to provide oxygen for the lake, the die-off ended," Chung said

The volume of dead fish was transported to the Nam Son landfill in the suburban district of Soc Son for burial

To save the remaining fish in the lake, the Hanoi Urban Environment Ltd, Co installed 20 aeration devices to provide oxygen to fish.

The city also ordered authorised agencies to use RedOxy-3C, a substance manufactured in Germany to treat surface water and ground water.

Over 1,000 people were mobilized to clean the lake.

Le Ha