Hundreds of tons of dead fish on the Oder River, the case being investigated

Hundreds of tons of fish are thought to have died on the Oder River, on the border between Germany and Poland. Meanwhile, local authorities have warned residents not to have contact with water, the BBC writes.

Despite weeks of investigation, experts from both countries have been unable to determine exactly what caused the death of the fish. Scientists suspect that someone has polluted water with a substance that seems to have caused high levels of salt.

This caused the algae to find ground and flourish. According to the scientists who released the substance, the toxins have caused the death of fish by then polluting the water. A deadly chemical chain reaction, which, they say, may have been exacerbated by hot wine and low river levels.

But they still don't know the real cause of the phenomenon.

The century of this ecological disaster is unprecedented in Poland. It's a disaster. We've never found so many dead creatures, so many dead fish, mollusks or snails.

It's the first time that happens and it's a serious warning,” said Andrezie Kapusta, expert from the Fishing Institute.

Police have interviewed more than 200 witnesses and investigated 12 locations. They have even offered a reward of more than 200,000 euros to anyone providing information that will lead to the author's arrest.

The fishermen we talked to near Gliwice, who told us that they had seen dead fish in March, expressed skepticism if the person responsible was to be caught.

Someone's responsible, someone's guilty, but maybe we'll never find out who”, one of them said.

Investigators, however, have discovered about 300 unregistered sewer tubes and are investigating about 60 of them in connection with fish deaths. Authorities on both sides of Oder have admitted mistakes in handling the issue, abcnews.al reports.

Experts, like Andreziz Kapusta, say it is important to review the way the river is being managed. They are concerned that this may happen again especially when the cause is not yet known.

“We need an exact monitoring system, an online monitoring system that will inform the adequate authorities as soon as possible,” he said. “In such cases a response is needed to prevent such disasters. ”

It will be difficult for life to return to Oder, perhaps years will pass perhaps decades before the river returns to its former state. /abcnews. al