|
The Sarandí stream, near Villa Inflamable, in the municipality
of Avellaneda, is home to tanneries and other industries that
transform animal skins into leather using chemicals. Images of
the blood-red waterway captured by residents quickly spread on
social media, evoking apocalyptic imagery.
María Ducomls, a local resident, described waking early one
recent morning to powerful odors.
“At 5:30 a.m., we already had a special and hazardous waste
incinerator spewing pollutants into the air,” she told The
Associated Press. Shortly after, she noticed the stream, “It
looks like a stream of blood; we have never seen it like this,”
she said.
Officials from the municipality of Avellaneda, about 15
kilometers (9 miles) south of the Argentine capital, suspect the
presence of aniline, a toxic substance used in dyes and
medicines.
Following the collection of water samples, they filed a
complaint with the Buenos Aires province ministry of
infrastructure and public services, which will lead an
investigation.
Residents report that the stream has exhibited various unusual
colors in the past — gray, green, violet, blue and brown — often
with an oily surface. They say they have been filing complaints
against local businesses since the 1990s, with several cases of
alleged environmental contamination still open.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights
reserved |
|
