ANAHUAC: Thousands of dead fish cover the surface of a lagoon in Mexico’s northern Chihuahua state, with local officials blaming severe drought.
The fish die-off in Bustillos Lagoon, located in the city of Anahuac, Chihuahua, occurred during a long dry spell as the temperature soared above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). The water level in the lagoon is very dangerous, officials said.
Some form of drought is affecting nearly 90% of Mexico, the highest level since 2011, according to government data. The state of Chihuahua has been hit hard, with most of the region surrounded by the highest levels of drought.
According to Irma de la Pena, director of the Department of Ecology in Cuauhtemoc, the lagoon lacks enough water for fish to survive, and the remaining water quality is poor.
“When the water level drops, the pollutants become more concentrated and affect the species that live there,” said de la Pena.
Mass fish kills in the area have occurred in previous years when the lagoon dried up and the fish suffocated.
Livestock such as cattle and donkeys were also destroyed as dams failed and farmers struggled to access water.
The heat and drought became so severe that many who suspended agriculture traveled and left.
Jesus Maria Palacios, a cattle herder in Cuauhtemoc, said: “They are very abandoned because it does not rain … they do not dare to stay here anymore.”
In the lagoon, local authorities raced to cover dead fish with lime, worried that rotting under the baking sun posed a threat to public health by attracting insects and spreading disease. They asked local organizations for help.
“What we need is support and options available, especially for health issues,” said Saul Sausameda, president of the Anahuac community.
