Quang Ngai (VNA) – A workingdelegation from the central province of Quang Ngai’s husbandry and animalhealth department on October 23 collected dead fish samples for testing to findout the cause of the recent massive fish deaths in Binh Son district.

Nguyen Dinh Tuan, head of the department, said his agency will send thesesamples to the Animal Health Agency Zone 4 in Da Nang for testing.

Fish farmers in the area of Ho Chuoi Lake, Binh Trung commune are concernedabout thousands of dead fish, which are polluting a local lake.

A foul smell emanated from the dead fish, whichwere covered by flies in the lake, the Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaperreported.

Pham Tan Thanh, a resident, told the newspaperthat poultry (chickens and ducks) belonging to locals died after eating thedead fish that washed up ashore near their residential areas.

Mass fish deaths have occurred a few times inrecent years, but not in such high numbers as this time, another resident toldthe newspaper.

Resident Cu Van Hung said the fish started dyingafter heavy rainfall last week. “It’s strange,” he said.

Fish farmer Do Thi Van, who is raising some20,000 carp, grass carp and tench fish at home, said she lost some 100kg offish per day, which resulted in financial loses of millions of dong.

“The polluted water flowed from the lake into mypond so fast, I didn’t know how to prevent it,” she said.-VNA