Authorities are currently investigating the incident while working diligently to remove the deceased fish. Residents and media reports attribute the catastrophe to a severe heatwave and inadequate lake management.
Much of Southeast Asia, including southern and central Vietnam, has been subjected to scorching heat, forcing schools to close early and causing a surge in electricity consumption. A local resident in Trang Bom district, who goes by the name Nghia, informed AFP, “All the fish in the Song May reservoir died due to water scarcity. The odor has disrupted our lives over the past ten days.”
Images depict locals wading and boating through the 300-hectare Song May reservoir, where the water is barely discernible beneath a blanket of lifeless marine creatures. According to media accounts, the area has not received rain in weeks, resulting in insufficient water levels in the reservoir to sustain the fish population. Nghia explained that reservoir management had previously released water in an attempt to preserve downstream crops. “They subsequently attempted to restore the reservoir by bringing in a pump to remove the mud, providing more space and water for the fish,” he said.
However, these initiatives were unsuccessful, and shortly after, numerous fish perished. Local media outlets speculate that as much as two hundred tonnes of fish may have died. Tuoi Tre newspaper reported that the company responsible for managing the lake began dredging operations in early 2024, with the initial intention of releasing additional water into the reservoir for the fish. “Nonetheless, due to the persistent heatwave, the investor diverted the water downstream, resulting in a reduction in water levels. Consequently, a mass fish death occurred,” the newspaper reported.
The reservoir serves as a water source for agricultural crops in Dong Nai province’s Trang Bom and Vinh Cuu districts. “We are hopeful that authorities will make every effort to rectify the situation,” Nghia said.
Meteorologists reported that temperatures in Dong Nai province, located 100 kilometers west of Ho Chi Minh City, reached around 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in April, surpassing the previous record high set in 1998. The soaring temperatures are also affecting neighboring Cambodia, where temperatures could reach 43 degrees Celsius.
On Wednesday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet instructed schools to contemplate closures to protect students and teachers from the heat and placed officials on standby in anticipation of water shortages. This directive follows the education minister’s order on Tuesday to shorten morning classes and delay afternoon ones to avoid the peak midday heat. Hang Chuon Naron stated that these measures were implemented “to mitigate risks and prevent illnesses that could jeopardize the health” of students and educators.
Meanwhile, in Thailand, electricity consumption reached unprecedented highs on Tuesday as temperatures in the northeastern province of Udon Thani exceeded 44 degrees Celsius.
