Wastewater discharge suspected in Corgo River fish kill

A preliminary assessment by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) suggests that an abnormal discharge of wastewater may have caused a mass fish kill in the Corgo River in Vila Real. The incident was first reported on Sunday via the SOS Environment and Territory line, operated by the GNR's Nature and Environment Protection Service (SEPNA).

The situation worsened on Monday, with reports of increased dead fish and an intense, anomalous odor, particularly concentrated between the bridge near the Science Center and the dam. Investigators believe the discharge was a punctual event occurring between Saturday and Sunday, coinciding with thunderstorms and precipitation in the region. It is suspected that the pollutants may have entered the water through the storm drain network.

The APA noted that the combination of this pollution episode, high temperatures, and the naturally low river flow characteristic of this season likely contributed to the mortality. Water samples and dead fish specimens have been collected for laboratory analysis to identify the exact cause and assess the extent of the environmental impact.