Red Alert: Buenos Aires Canal Turns Scarlet Amid Environmental Concerns

The Sarandí canal in Buenos Aires turned a vivid red this week, possibly due to the discharge of toxic waste from local industries. The Environment Ministry is analyzing samples as concerns over pollution grow among residents.

A canal in the outskirts of Buenos Aires, known as the Sarandí, has raised alarm bells among local residents after its water turned a striking bright red on Thursday. Images and videos circulating online depict the unsettling phenomenon, as the scarlet water flows into the nearby Rio de la Plata estuary, which is adjacent to an ecological reserve.

Initial reports from local media speculate that the unusual color could be attributed to the illegal dumping of textile dye or chemical waste from nearby industrial sites. The Environment Ministry swiftly responded by collecting water samples from the canal to investigate the cause of this drastic color change.

By Thursday afternoon, the intensity of the water's color had diminished, according to the AFP news agency. Local inhabitants have voiced their concerns over the long-standing problem of industrial waste disposal in the canal, particularly given the presence of leather processing and textile factories nearby, located roughly 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the city's center.

Residents like Silvia reported encounters with the canal's tainted waters in the past, noting that it had previously exhibited different colors, including yellow, which came with an acidic smell that could cause throat irritation. "Today, it has no smell," she remarked, while also acknowledging the presence of warehouses in the vicinity instead of many factories.

Another resident, Maria Ducomls, confirmed that local industries have a history of discharging their pollutants, recounting instances where the water appeared bluish, green, pink, or even lilac, often with a greasy film on top. As the situation develops, locals continue to voice concerns over the environmental integrity of their community.