WATCH: Dusi river off limits following major oil spill
It is understood over 1,600 cubic metres of fatty oils and caustic soda have entered the water in what has been described as the largest spill there in 30 years.
Organisers of the @DusiCanoe Marathon say the river is off limits following a major oil spill in the Pietermaritzburg area. Video: Dusi Media Office.@ecr9495 pic.twitter.com/EEVhZxuDp7
— ECR_Newswatch (@ECR_Newswatch) August 15, 2019
Organisers of the Dusi Canoe Marathon says investigations have since revealed that a local factory was the source.
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Spokesperson for the Dusi, Ray de Vries says a clean-up operation is already underway."Storage containers burst and the resultant floods all went down into the river," said De Vries.
He says the Duzi Umgeni Conservancy Trust (DUCT) was notified immediately.
The trust is the body that works with the Dusi Canoe Marathon to monitor the condition of the river.
Clean-up crews are on the ground in Pietermaritzburg following a major oil spill into the Umsunduzi River. Video: Dusi Media Office pic.twitter.com/UcnF4Lh0qo
— ECR_Newswatch (@ECR_Newswatch) August 15, 2019
"A massive clean-up operation is underway at the moment. We have seen lots of people get involved," said De Vries.
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