December 28 2007 at 11:29AM
By Matthew Savides
Pollution in Durban harbour, which killed hundreds of fish on Wednesday, has spread over several square kilometres, heightening fears that more fish, animals and their habitats could be affected.
The strong, sulphur-like smell that has blanketed the area since Wednesday morning was still noticeable on Thursday.
Lin Gravelet-Blondin, Deputy Director of Water Quality Management in the Water Affairs department, said on Wednesday that only 10 fish had died, but he admitted on Thursday that the situation was "much worse than initially thought".
During a visit to the affected area, near the Bluff Yacht Club, he said "hundreds" of fish had died or were dying.
Evidence suggested that the toxin was hydrogen sulphide, which is toxic to humans and animals.
Gravelet-Blondin said there was an "unnatural" amount of organic waste in the water that could have begun reacting chemically because of the heat and direct sunlight hitting the water in the past few days.
The results of tests done on Thursday, which could confirm the theory, were expected in the next few days. "It is not natural to have this amount of organic waste in the water," said Gravelet-Blondin.
It appeared that the death of hundreds of fish close to the yacht club on Monday was linked to the latest incident. A link to the death of thousands of fish at Wilson's Wharf on Friday was also being investigated.
Mercury readers reacted angrily to the story published on Thursday, with most calling for action against the individual or company responsible for the pollution, or the dumping of the organic waste which caused it.
Speaking on Wednesday, eThekwini Municipal Manager Michael Sutcliffe said the first deaths recorded at Wilson's Wharf were not due to toxins, but rather natural substances that were in the water. He said there were several possibilities being probed, but would not say what these were until reports were handed to him.
Environmental affairs department spokesperson Mbulelo Baloyi said the department would only get involved if asked to do so. He said the Water affairs department, National Ports Authority and eThekwini officials were handling the investigation.
By Matthew Savides
Pollution in Durban harbour, which killed hundreds of fish on Wednesday, has spread over several square kilometres, heightening fears that more fish, animals and their habitats could be affected.
The strong, sulphur-like smell that has blanketed the area since Wednesday morning was still noticeable on Thursday.
Lin Gravelet-Blondin, Deputy Director of Water Quality Management in the Water Affairs department, said on Wednesday that only 10 fish had died, but he admitted on Thursday that the situation was "much worse than initially thought".
During a visit to the affected area, near the Bluff Yacht Club, he said "hundreds" of fish had died or were dying.
Evidence suggested that the toxin was hydrogen sulphide, which is toxic to humans and animals.
Gravelet-Blondin said there was an "unnatural" amount of organic waste in the water that could have begun reacting chemically because of the heat and direct sunlight hitting the water in the past few days.
The results of tests done on Thursday, which could confirm the theory, were expected in the next few days. "It is not natural to have this amount of organic waste in the water," said Gravelet-Blondin.
It appeared that the death of hundreds of fish close to the yacht club on Monday was linked to the latest incident. A link to the death of thousands of fish at Wilson's Wharf on Friday was also being investigated.
Mercury readers reacted angrily to the story published on Thursday, with most calling for action against the individual or company responsible for the pollution, or the dumping of the organic waste which caused it.
Speaking on Wednesday, eThekwini Municipal Manager Michael Sutcliffe said the first deaths recorded at Wilson's Wharf were not due to toxins, but rather natural substances that were in the water. He said there were several possibilities being probed, but would not say what these were until reports were handed to him.
Environmental affairs department spokesperson Mbulelo Baloyi said the department would only get involved if asked to do so. He said the Water affairs department, National Ports Authority and eThekwini officials were handling the investigation.