»What is happening here is a real tragedy«

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There are tons of dead fish floating on the Oder.

From Poland - where the Oder rises and takes the larger part of its course before it becomes the border river between Germany and Poland - the carcasses drift to Frankfurt an der Oder.

The cause of the massive fish kill has not yet been finally clarified.

Some experts suspect mercury poisoning.

However, it could also be a combination of heat, historically low water levels, and other toxins.

Miroslaw Kaminski, Zielona Gora Fishing Association Poland

»I have never experienced such an environmental catastrophe in my entire life.

This is probably the worst disaster in the history of our district.

I don't think the Oder has ever seen anything of this magnitude.

What is happening here is a real tragedy

.«

A tragedy that could possibly have been prevented or at least contained: Individual fish carcasses are said to have been discovered on the Polish side at the end of July.

But the reporting chain did not work, according to the German Federal Ministry for the Environment.

The authorities now want to use drones to get an overview of the situation.

Test results from Poland can be expected on Sunday at the earliest.

Experts dispute the extent of the long-term effects on the ecosystem: In the event of mercury poisoning, however, birds that eat the poisoned fish could also be affected next.

The carcasses are to be removed from the German part of the Oder on Saturday.