Fish Deaths In Sungai Tekai Under DOE Investigation

ALOR SETAR, Feb 5 (Bernama) -- The Department of Environment (DOE) is investigating reports of fish deaths in Sungai Tekai, near Pekan Naka in Padang Terap.

Kedah DOE director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab said the department received a report of the incident at 6.05 pm last Tuesday, after which a team of officers was deployed to the site for inspection.

“An on-site investigation found the carcasses of various freshwater fish species, including lampam, baung, patung and tembakang. According to preliminary information from local residents, the incident was first noticed around 5 pm last Monday.

“The investigation team carried out in-situ measurements at the site of the fish carcasses. Four bottles of river water samples were collected and sent to the Chemistry Department for analysis to determine whether any pollutants or toxic substances were present,” she said in a statement today.

She said the DOE also received information from the public claiming that the fish deaths were caused by tuba fishing and advised the public to report the incident to the police.

“Members of the public are advised not to use tuba or fish bombs for fishing in river areas,” she said.

-- BERNAMA