DURBAN – eThekwini Municipality has appealed to the public to stop picking up and collecting dead marine life off the Umdloti and uMhlanga coastline which were contaminated with harmful toxic chemicals.
While the city has not confirmed the cause of chemical spill, it is believed that it emanates from a chemical warehouse which was burnt down amid the looting and civil unrest in the province in the past week.
“Authorities are urging the public to refrain from picking up and collecting dead marine life off the Umdloti and uMhlanga coastline as they have been contaminated with toxic chemicals and could be harmful to humans.
“The public is also reminded that the beaches north of the Umgeni River are closed as a precautionary measure.”
The municipality has also advised the public to refrain from all recreational activities, including fishing or surfing, bait collection and picking up of dead species.
“Collecting or harvesting of any marine living resource in the area is temporarily prohibited until the cause is determined and the threat has abated.”
According to the City, a specialised chemical clean-up company has been appointed to clean up the spill as well as any contamination including the marine life.
Special clean-up crews are on site to deal with the collection and disposal of dead marine and bird life in a responsible manner, it said.
The City said authorities are continuously monitoring the area to determine the extent of the impact of the spill.
To date, there has only been fish kill in the uMhlanga Estuary and beach area and Umdloti beach.
“Based on specialist advice, the river mouth has been left open to help dilute the contamination in the lagoon.”
Umhlanga ward councillor Nicole Bollman said they were aware of the danger and the cause was still being investigated by the relevant department in the municipality.
“Even though it has not been confirmed yet, we suspect that it is caused by the warehouse with chemicals that was set alight, but only reports will confirm that,” she said.
Bollman said she appealed for the community to stay away from the beaches as they monitored the situation.
“We are urging the community to not swim, fish or eat the fish from the beaches as this could result in them being poisoned,” she said.
The Fishers’ Folk forum also said they are aware of the situation.
Khan said a lot of fish have died and beachgoers have said there was a smell in the water.
“So we suggest to the people in the area not to fish and swim in the area,” said Khan.
Members of the public are urged to report any further contamination or fish kill to Spilltech on 083 253 6618.
THE MERCURY