Durban power cut kills off fish

Tag : cut out metal



Gravelet-Blondin said the deaths seemed to be the result of a lackof oxygen from rotting organic matter and sewage, rather than toxicchemicals from industry.

"If it was toxic material from industry you would expect to seefish dying immediately, but in this case the fish are stressed andhave come to the surface to find oxygen."

Municipal staff were adding oxygen to the water using compressors,or by pumping and spraying water back into the estuary.

Effluent was also being removed from some of the pump stationsusing tankers. A decision would be made on Friday on whether toopen the river mouth to raise oxygen levels, or to treat theestuary with peroxide.

Municipal electricity head Sandile Maphumulo said temporary repairwork had been done on the pylon and power was restored to Isipingo,Prospecton and Umlazi.

Maphululo said work on a new pylon would take about two weeks.

Toyota vice-president Thapelo Malapo said the company would not beable to communicate the message that there was power to all itsworkers.

"We also have to do a clean-up operation to stabilise the company.We have to get things like the temperature back in order before wecan start, which will still be on Monday regardless of power beingrestored earlier than expected," he said.

A man who was charged with sabotage in connection with theft of thepylon's bolts is expected to appear in the Durban magistrate'scourt on Friday.