Residents Alarmed by Mysterious Red Canal in Buenos Aires

A canal on the outskirts of Buenos Aires turned bright red, alarming residents amid suspicions of waste disposal from nearby industries. The Environment Ministry is investigating the cause while local testimonies reveal a history of polluted waterways.

A canal in a Buenos Aires suburb has caused a stir after it transformed into a vivid red color on Thursday, arousing fear and curiosity among local residents. Captured in photographs and videos, the strikingly colored water ran into the nearby Rio de la Plata estuary, adjacent to an ecological reserve, drawing attention to potential environmental issues.

Local media speculate that the unusual hue may stem from the dumping of textile dyes or hazardous chemical waste from a depot located in the vicinity. In response, the Environment Ministry has collected water samples from the Sarandí canal to ascertain the source of the sudden color shift.

Reports indicate that by late afternoon, the water’s vivid hue had started to diminish. Residents have long expressed concerns about local industries allegedly discharging toxic waste into this waterway, known to flow through areas dense with leather processing and textile production, around 10 kilometers from downtown Buenos Aires.

One resident, Silvia, recounted to C5N, “Although it has turned red today, there have been times it was yellow, with an acid smell that makes us sick even in the throat." Another community member, Maria Ducomls, asserted that businesses consistently pollute the stream, mentioning past instances of varied colors, including “bluish, a little green, pink, a little lilac, with grease on top.”

The incident underscores ongoing environmental challenges faced by Buenos Aires, with local inhabitants advocating for accountability from industries contributing to the pollution of their waterways.