A canal in Buenos Aires suburb Sarandí turned bright red, raising alarm among locals. Initial findings suggest potential textile dye or chemical waste as causes, with officials investigating the source. Residents express frustration over recurring pollution from nearby industries.
Buenos Aires Canal Turns Vivid Red, Sparking Environmental Concerns
Buenos Aires Canal Turns Vivid Red, Sparking Environmental Concerns
Residents alarmed as local canal reflects troubling color change linked to chemical waste.
A canal in the Sarandí suburb of Buenos Aires, Argentina, exhibited a shocking transformation on Thursday, adopting a bright red hue that alarmed nearby residents. Aerial footage revealed the strikingly colored water flowing into the Rio de la Plata estuary, an area known for its ecological significance.
Local media speculates that the unusual coloration may result from either improper disposal of textile dye or chemical waste emanating from a nearby industrial site. Responding to the incident, the Environment Ministry has commenced testing water samples from the canal to pinpoint the exact cause of the change in color. By late afternoon, the red intensity reportedly diminished.
Concerned residents highlighted a longstanding issue of industrial waste disposal in the waterway, especially from leather processing and textile factories, situated just approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Buenos Aires' city center. Silvia, a local resident, conveyed her distress to the news network C5N, stating, “Other times it has turned yellow, with an acidic smell that makes us sick even in the throat."
Fellow resident Maria Ducomls described the canal's history of varied colors, including shades of blue, green, pink, and lilac, often accompanied by greasy residue. This alarming incident underscores ongoing environmental challenges faced by communities situated near industrial zones in proximity to Buenos Aires.
