In a tragic turn of events, a scorching heat wave gripping Southeast Asia has led to a mass fish die-off in the Song May reservoir, located in Dong Nai province, southern Vietnam. The soaring temperatures, reaching nearly 40 degrees Celsius, have caused intense droughts, leaving farmers struggling to keep their crops alive.
As fishermen work tirelessly to collect the hundreds of thousands of dead fish blanketing the 300-hectare reservoir, the devastating impact of the heatwave becomes evident. Recent images show fish piled atop one another, muddied, dry, and disintegrated, highlighting the severity of the situation.
Blame for the catastrophe is directed towards the combination of drought, heatwave, and issues with reservoir management. With no rainfall for weeks, the water levels in the reservoir plummeted, leaving the fish with insufficient habitat to survive.
Nghia, a resident from Trang Bom district, lamented the dire situation, stating that the fish “died for lack of water,” further expressing the turmoil caused by the overpowering stench permeating the area.
Efforts to remove the dead fish, estimated at around 200 tons, prove to be a daunting task, exacerbated by the failed attempt to renovate the reservoir. Despite the use of numerous buckets and nets, the magnitude of the cleanup remains overwhelming.
The reservoir, crucial for supplying water to crops in Trang Bom and Vinh Cuu districts, saw its management discharge water downstream in an attempt to salvage crops, exacerbating the plight of the fish.
Reports indicate that plans to release extra water into the reservoir for the fish were thwarted due to the relentless heatwave, diverting the water downstream instead.
As authorities launch an investigation into the mass die-off, efforts continue to mitigate the environmental and economic repercussions of the catastrophe.
In the wake of this tragedy, it is imperative for authorities to address the underlying issues of water management and climate resilience to prevent similar crises in the future.
