Thousands of tabtim have died mysteriously at fish farms on the Chao Phya River in Angthong province.

Pollution in the Chao Phya River is being blamed for the deaths of over 100,000 fish worth an estimated Bt20 million.

Fish farmers of Pa Moke district in Angthong, recovering from last year's devastating floods, are now threatened with bankruptcy.

River life has died in neighbouring Ayutthaya where 200 farmers called on the government to investigate if factories had released wastewater into the river.

Angthong fisheries chief Chatchai Hunthaveechai said more than 100,000 fish raised in 1,000 floating cages died in Tambon Bang Sadet and Tambon Phong Pheng. Other river life died, too, possibly from heavy substances released into the river, depriving it of oxygen.

The dead fish have been collected to prevent further pollution from decomposition.

Officials are checking water quality and sending fish and water samples for laboratory tests and have said they would assist fish farmers.

People have been warned not to consume the dead fish.

Angthong Governor Wiboon Sanguanphong suspected the sinking of a vessel carrying 650 tonnes of sugar on March 3 in a stretch of the river at Tambon Pho Sa in Muang Angthong district, and industrial wastewater, as possible causes of the contamination. Officials are investigating and warned that offenders will be prosecuted.

Bang Sadet farmer Kittipong Wongsukram, 47, borrowed Bt1 million to raise 105,000 tabtim at his fish farm.

The fish were four months old and weighed up to one kilogram. They were discovered dead on Sunday. Kittipong said the river water had changed colour and became murky on Sunday evening and the fish struggled to breathe before dying.

The fish fetch between Bt43 and Bt45 a kilogram, he said.

Phong Pheng villager Kalaya Suriyan, 46, spent Bt600,000 to raise 41,500 fish and had arranged to sell them for Bt13 a kilogram when she discovered them dead.

She said she was now bankrupt after suffering losses caused by the flooding last year.

Kalaya said villagers suspected one of four riverside factories had released toxic wastewater into the river.

At Bang Ban district in neighbouring Ayutthaya, there have been similar deaths at Tambon Bang Chanee and Tambon Bang Ban.

Many residents have been collecting the dead fish.

Fish farmer Somjai Pong-charoen, 55, said his 10,000 fish had breathing difficulties on Sunday evening and were dead by morning, inflicting a loss of Bt900,000 on her.

Ayutthaya fisheries chief Thongraem Silawat inspected the river from Muang district to Pa Moke in Angthong. He said many fish were dead and as many as 200 farms had been affected as the river's oxygen levels were low.

The Nation

ANGTHONG