A small river in Greater Buenos Aires turned a deep, alarming shade of red on Thursday, likely due to a dye leak from a nearby factory.
The Sarandí River, which flows through Avellaneda, about 9.6 km (six miles) south of Buenos Aires, shocked local residents, who have long voiced concerns over industrial pollution in the area.
According to the local newspaper, residents reported a “nauseating” smell emanating from the water and suspected a nearby tannery as the source of the contamination. María Ducomls, a resident, described the river as resembling “a bloody stream” and noted that similar incidents had occurred before. “You don’t need to be an inspector to see how polluted the poor Sarandí creek is,” she told media.
Ducomls, 52, said her family was awakened by the strong stench on Thursday morning. Despite numerous complaints, she lamented the lack of official explanations for the ongoing pollution. She added that the river had previously appeared in shades of blue, green, pink, and purple, often with an oily sheen on the surface.
The regional environment department confirmed it was investigating the suspected leak. “On the morning of Thursday, February 6, we received a report that the Sarandí canal had turned red,” a statement said.
A mobile analysis lab collected two liters of water for chemical testing and liquid chromatography to identify the substance responsible for the discoloration, which is believed to be an organic dye.
By late Thursday afternoon, a journalist reported that the river’s red hue had begun to fade.
