Massive number of fish washed ashore in Tianjin, officials deny link to chemical leakage

TIANJIN (Web Desk) - Large quantities of dead fish were discovered by locals in a river just six kilometers away from the site of the deadly warehouse explosion that took place in ‪Tianjin last Wednesday, which has claimed at least 114 lives and injured thousands more.



The seemingly abnormal occurrence soon caused alarm throughout the city, raising concerns that the leakage of toxic chemicals, including sodium ‪‎cyanide, which was stored in the warehouse, may have contaminated the water, CCTV cited.



In response to the phenomenon, the city’s environmental protection authorities said during a press conference held on Thursday afternoon that experts have gone to the site for further analysis.



Deng Xiaowen, head of environment monitoring of Tianjin environmental protection authority, said the water areas where the dead fish appeared are under regular monitoring. A few hours later, researchers said no toxic levels of cyanide were found in water samples.



Deng said the phenomenon was not the first to be seen in the city, citing past example of mass die-offs of fish due to lack of oxygen.