Severe heatwave causes massive fish deaths in Vietnam

Hundreds of thousands of fish die in Vietnam as the heat wave literally roasts Southeast Asia

A severe heatwave in Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam, has led to the death of hundreds of thousands of fish in the Song May water reservoir. This incident has not only produced a foul smell but has also significantly disrupted local life.

The cause of this disaster is attributed to the extreme heat, coupled with less than optimal management of the reservoir.

Eyewitness account

Nghia, a local resident, described the devastating scene where the water was barely visible beneath a blanket of dead fish. He noted that there had been no rain in the area for weeks, leading to a significant drop in the water level.

What happened?

Reservoir managers reportedly released water to save downstream crops and then attempted to dredge and pump mud to create more space and water for the fish. However, these efforts failed, resulting in a massive die-off. According to local reports, at least 220 tons of fish may have died.

Response from authorities

Authorities are currently investigating the incident and are working to remove the dead fish from the reservoir, which also serves as a water source for crops in the Trang Bom and Vinh Cuu districts.This heatwave, with temperatures reaching about 104 degrees Fahrenheit in Dong Nai Province, has broken previous records set in 1998.

Impact on neighboring Cambodia

The extreme weather is also affecting neighboring Cambodia, where temperatures could hit 109.4 degrees Fahrenheit. In response, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has ordered schools to consider closing to protect teachers and students from the heat.