Run-off from South Africa phosphate mine pollutes famed national park
Mine run-off cited as thousands of dead fish are found in South African tributary
South African authorities revealed that a phosphate mine spillage has caused "extensive pollution" to a river in the country's famed Kruger national park.
Park officials said on Tuesday that "highly acidic water" from a dam at the Bosveld phosphate mine spilled into a tributary of the Olifants river, killing thousands of fish.
"It's extensive pollution given the number of fish we have witnessed floating over a 15 kilometre-stretch of the river," park spokesman Ike Phaahla said.
"We haven't seen any of the big animals affected, your hippos or your crocodiles," said Phaahla after a preliminary investigation.
But the park's water resources manager Eddie Riddell estimated the number of dead fish at several thousand, pointing to major environmental damage.
A fisherman notified the park in late December of a number of dead fish floating on the river, prompting the probe.
Heavy rains that recently pounded the area are believed to have contributed to the spill.