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Dead fish and garbage in Rio's Guanabara Bay question Brazil's Olympic celebrations

Saturday, January 16th 2016 - 10:31 UTC
Full article 9 comments
“Officials found rubbish in the water and on the beach as well as a considerable number of dead fish all from the same species of sardine,” said city officials “Officials found rubbish in the water and on the beach as well as a considerable number of dead fish all from the same species of sardine,” said city officials
Other than floating garbage the officials saw no “visual abnormalities” in the water. They took samples and will report back in five days. Other than floating garbage the officials saw no “visual abnormalities” in the water. They took samples and will report back in five days.
When Rio bid to host the 2016 Olympics, the city said it would cut raw sewage flowing into the bay by 80% but has since confirmed it will not meet that target. When Rio bid to host the 2016 Olympics, the city said it would cut raw sewage flowing into the bay by 80% but has since confirmed it will not meet that target.
Health experts say the risks in the water to the public range from a multitude of gastrointestinal diseases to hepatitis A. Health experts say the risks in the water to the public range from a multitude of gastrointestinal diseases to hepatitis A.

Thousands of dead fish washed up on the shores of Rio’s Guanabara Bay during the week, not far from where events are being held at this year’s Olympic Games, environmental officials said. The incident was the latest involving water quality in the bay, where sailing, open water swimming, and triathlon races are due to take place during the Games in August.

 “Officials found rubbish in the water and on the beach as well as a considerable number of dead fish all from the same species of sardine,” the government’s State Environmental Institute said in a statement.

“These fish because of their low commercial value are often thrown overboard by trawlers as we have seen on other occasions in this same area.”

Other than floating garbage the officials saw no “visual abnormalities” in the water. They took samples and will report back in five days.

When Rio bid to host the 2016 Olympics, the city said it would cut the amount of raw sewage flowing into the bay by 80% but has since confirmed it will not meet that target. An independent report last year found there were dangerously high levels of viruses and bacteria in the water.

Health experts say the risks to the public range from a multitude of gastrointestinal diseases to hepatitis A.

Guanabara Bay’s rampant pollution levels are the city’s biggest headache ahead of its hosting of the Olympics in August. Efforts to tackle the problem underscore an issue at the heart of Brazil’s checkered environmental record: under-resourced agencies struggling to stamp out everything from Amazon deforestation to the illegal use of pesticides.

Sailors for the German and British teams have already said they got sick after competing on the polluted water. Some racers have reported hitting floating waste, including a sofa and dead dog.

An inadequate sewage system and the untreated human waste that flows into the bay is one part of the problem. Another is the illegal dumping of waste by companies

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  • Captainsilver

    After visting St Helena my friends recently returned from Rio aghast at the fact that the Olympics will take place there. They described it as a shithole with one football stadium alongside a stinking sea.

    Jan 16th, 2016 - 10:53 am 0
  • ChrisR

    Now we can see Brasso and his mates 'fishing' in the bay as he reported recently!

    That's cheating Brasso, they are already dead, just like the whole country will be in a very few years unless DumbAss Dilma and her crooks are thrown out pretty damn soon.

    Jan 16th, 2016 - 11:07 am 0
  • Conqueror

    Has Brazil got anywhere clean? Olympics should be cancelled. Who can tell what diseases competitors will get? Is the Brazilian government guaranteeing evacuation to safe hospital facilities in a proper country? Paying for all treatment? Compensation?

    Games should never have been awarded to Brazil. It's clearly a shithole.

    Jan 16th, 2016 - 11:58 am 0
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