Tons of dead fish cover major Sao Paulo river after alleged dumping of industrial waste

In Tanqua, Brazil, up to 20 tons of fish died in the Piracicaba River after suspected illegal waste discharge from a sugar and ethanol plant. The Sao Paulo state environmental authorities linked the mass fish deaths to wastewater from Estiva’s Sao Jose plant, causing significant biodiversity impacts. Local communities and biodiversity are severely affected, with recovery expected to take years. The situation has prompted investigations into potential environmental crimes and discussions about civil and criminal liabilities. Meanwhile, efforts to mitigate the impact included increasing river water flow to boost dissolved oxygen levels.