SINGAPORE - A layer of white covered the muddy banks of Sungei Api Api yesterday, as thousands of white fish, measuring 5cm long each, were washed up onto the shore.
The smell of rotting fish could be detected as far as 30m away from the river, which flows through the Pasir Ris estate.
"I was frying chicken, but all I smelt was fish," said homemaker Wati Mansor, 47. "The smell was very strong - it even went up to my master bedroom - I felt like I was in a wet market." Mdm Wati's second-floor mansionette at Elias Road overlooks the river.
In all her 10 years living in Pasir Ris, this is the first time such an incident has happened, Mdm Wati said. This was confirmed by other residents.
Mr Mark Rodrigues, a resident and chief controller at SMRT, told Today that the stench turned up after 3pm. "This is the first time that we have fish dying on the banks," he said.
A foreman from Neo Lian Poh Construction, who only gave his name as Wanz, agreed. He told Today that he and his crew have been cleaning the river for two years and there had been no such incidents previously. He said the dead fish were ikan bilis and ikan tamban. About 30 men in reflective vests were spotted cleaning up the banks yesterday.
Mr Rodrigues and Mr Wanz believed that the dead fish came from Serangoon Harbour, near Pulau Ubin, and both were puzzled about the cause of death.
Residents told Today that the river is commonly used for recreational activities such as canoeing and fishing. The sight of thousands of dead fish yesterday spooked some of them.
"If the fish died because the water was polluted and people eat their catch, there's a health concern," said Mdm Wati.
Pasir Ris resident Heidi A said: "I'm wondering whether the water is polluted because it's near Pasir Ris beach which until recently was not safe for water activities."
According to national water agency PUB, the dead fish were found at the mouth of Sungei Api Api and along Pasir Ris beach yesterday. "(They) were likely to have been washed in by the tide, and some of them were deposited on the river bed of Sungei Api Api. The contractors are currently clearing the dead fishes," it said.
"PUB assures the public that this incident has no impact on drinking water quality. The water in Sungei Api Api is not used for the drinking water supply."
The National Environment Agency is also investigating the cause of the incident.
Thousands of dead fish seen at Pasir Ris riverbank
Hetty Musfirah Channel NewsAsia 20 Mar 12;
SINGAPORE: Residents living near Sungei Api Api in Pasir Ris were hit by a stinker, after thousands of dead small fish were swept up the banks of the river.
The dead fish were first spotted at the mouth of the river and along the beach at Pasir Ris on Tuesday morning.
National water agency PUB was informed of the spectacle, and workers were seen scooping up the dead fish and disposing them.
PUB said the fish are likely to have been washed up into Sungei Api Api by the tide.
Some residents said they noticed the fishy smell around 3pm.
Some residents were bothered by the smell, while others described it as being nothing more than just being in a fish market.
Still, many were surprised, saying it was the first time they have seen such happening.
The river is not linked to the area's water supply, but is commonly used for recreational activities such as canoeing and fishing.
PUB assures the public the incident has no impact on drinking water quality.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) is also investigating the cause of the incident.
- CNA/ir
Thousands of dead fish in Pasir Ris
Straits Times 21 Mar 12;
PASIR Ris residents were startled to find thousands of small dead fish along Sungei Api Api, which flows through the estate and Pasir Ris Park, yesterday.
The fish appeared to have been washed in with the tide, said national water agency PUB, which was informed of the find at the mouth of Sungei Api Api and Pasir Ris beach in the morning.
Contractors began clearing the carcasses yesterday.
A PUB spokesman assured the public that the incident has no impact on the quality of drinking water, as the water in Sungei Api Api is not part of Singapore's drinking water supply.
The National Environment Agency is investigating the cause of the incident, a spokesman said.
Contaminated water not the cause?
Letter from Eric Lim Today Online 27 Mar 12;
I REFER to the report "When dead fish wash ashore at Pasir Ris ... " (March 21). I have been living in the Pasir Ris area for 14 years and have been fishing in the beach area for years.
A lot of people cast their nets there, and they can haul in hundreds of anchovies and tambans (a type of sardine) each time.
These groups would usually throw the dead anchovies and tambans back into the water, which could be the reason for the dead fishes seen last week.
One thing to note: Only anchovies and tambans were found dead. If the water was contaminated, more varieties of fishes could have been found, as Sungei Api Api is full of catfish.