Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 10:54 GMT+7

Nearly 20 tonnes of dead fish, waste removed from Ho Chi Minh City canal after first rains

Cleanup crews have collected nearly 20 metric tons of dead fish, water hyacinths, and trash from Ho Chi Minh City's Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal following the first heavy rains of the season late last week, a local public service company’s representative said on Tuesday.

Around 30 workers from District 8 Public Services Company, aided by two barges, two boats, and six smaller vessels, conducted the cleanup effort on May 8 and 9.

Saigon Traffic Construction JSC also deployed two garbage-collecting boats to assist.

Several local residents told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that fish began surfacing for air after a downpour on May 7.

On the following day, numerous tilapia and carp were seen floating belly-up, releasing a foul odor.

The situation worsened on May 9, with an increasing number of dead fish and intensifying stench.

Crews worked quickly across the canal’s stretch through District 3, Phu Nhuan District, Binh Thanh District, and District 1 to remove the organic waste and improve water quality.