What killed hundreds fish in European river? Mystery deepens

Laboratory assessments following a mass die-off of fish in the Oder River detected high levels of salinity but no mercury poisoning its waters, Poland’s atmosphere minister stated Saturday because the thriller continued as to what killed hundreds fish in Central Europe.

Anna Moskwa, the minister of local weather and atmosphere, stated analyses of river samples taken in both Poland and Germany printed elevated salt levels. Total toxicology experiences are unruffled underway in Poland, she stated.

She stated Poland’s verbalize veterinary authority tested seven species of the ineffective fish and ruled out mercury because the reason for the die-off but become as soon as unruffled awaiting outcomes of assorted substances. She stated take a look at outcomes from Germany had additionally no longer shown a high presence of mercury.

The Oder River runs from Czechia to the border between Poland and Germany before flowing into the Baltic Sea. Some German media had suggested that the river acquire been be poisoned with mercury.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki stated Friday that “mountainous quantities of chemical raze” were doubtlessly dumped deliberately into his country’s 2d-longest river, inflicting environmental hurt so excessive it can well bear years for the waterway to recover.

On Saturday, Morawiecki vowed to develop every little thing that you would possibly want to well also recall to mind to restrict the environmental devastation. Poland’s interior minister stated a reward of 1 million zlotys ($220,000) could well be paid to somebody who helps be aware down those responsible for polluting the river.

Authorities in the northeastern German verbalize of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania warned folks no longer to fish or use water from the Szczecin lagoon, because the river’s wicked water become as soon as expected to reach the estuary internet web speak on Saturday evening.

“The extent of the fish die-off is stunning. Here’s a blow to the Oder as a waterway of grand ecological price, from which this would per chance presumably no longer recover for a actually very prolonged time,” stated Alex Vogel, the atmosphere minister for Germany’s Brandenburg verbalize, along which the river runs.

The head of Polish waters, Poland’s national water administration authority, stated Thursday that 10 hundreds ineffective fish had been faraway from the river. An entire bunch of volunteers were working to abet acquire ineffective fish along the German aspect.

German laboratories stated they detected “abnormal” levels of “salts” that could be linked to the die-off but wouldn’t fully indicate them on their acquire.

Morawiecki ac