In just two weeks, tons of dead fish have been discovered in the Oder River, the second largest river in Poland, which also flows through the Czech Republic and eastern Germany. Authorities in Poland and Germany are working to determine the cause of this environmental disaster.
German broadcaster rbb24 reported on August 13 that the disaster has struck the Szczecin Lagoon at the mouth of the Oder River flowing into the Baltic Sea. Hundreds of volunteers, along with approximately 300 emergency service experts from Germany, have been collecting dead animals over an area stretching about 80 km along the banks of the Oder River.
Authorities have reported that tons of dead fish have been seen drifting ashore along the Oder River over the past two weeks, calling it an environmental disaster.
On August 12, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki stated that “a large amount of chemical waste may have been dumped into the Oder River.” He vowed to bring those responsible to justice, saying, “We will not overlook this issue. We will not rest until the guilty are severely punished,” in a video posted on Facebook.
Poland has offered a reward of 1 million zloty (approximately $220,200) for any information regarding those responsible for the “largest environmental disaster in the country in many years.”
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the pollution.
The Brandenburg State Laboratory reported that extremely high levels of mercury were found in water samples taken from the river. According to reports, the concentration of this highly toxic substance in the river was so high that testing equipment could not provide accurate results, necessitating repeated tests.
However, Polish Environment Minister Anna Moskwa has ruled out increased mercury levels as the cause of the mass fish deaths in the Oder. “The State Veterinary Institute tested seven species. It ruled out mercury as the cause of fish deaths,” she wrote on Twitter. Polish authorities have stated that high salt concentrations in the water could be the culprit.
Meanwhile, Berlin has blamed Warsaw for not sharing information about the disaster with Germany in a timely manner. Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke stated that German authorities were notified too late.
Workers collecting dead fish on the Oder River at a mobile fishing basin in Krajnik Dolny, Poland, on August 13. (Photo: Reuters).
Prime Minister Morawiecki told reporters that he became aware of the disaster “too late” and has since dismissed two senior officials responsible for environmental protection and water management.
According to rbb24, there are some “indications” that certain toxic substances were dumped into the Oder River near the city of Wroclaw in southern Poland at the end of July. However, it remains unclear what the exact route was or who the perpetrators might be.
This incident comes as Europe faces a major windstorm and heatwaves, causing water levels in many of the continent’s major rivers to drop. Some media reports have suggested that this reality may have also contributed to the disaster.
