A river in Zhejiang Province, China, experienced a phenomenon where it turned milky white like milk. Local authorities explained that the pollution was caused by a nearby factory.

According to Chinese media outlets such as Jimu News, the location was a river flowing through Rui'an City, Wenzhou City, in the same province. Between the 6th and 7th of this month, it not only turned milky white, but also a large number of fish surfaced in groups. There was no strange odor, and no residents reported feeling unwell, but the abnormal phenomenon caused widespread concern.

According to people involved, a local dragon boat race is held in this river, and elderly residents living along the river use it for washing clothes. However, it is not used for washing dishes or as drinking water.

Afterward, the Wenzhou Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment announced that 'the sealing function of a storage tank valve at a local webbing manufacturer's factory failed, causing the raw material, water-based adhesive, to leak into the adjacent river.' The pollution temporarily extended over a range of several hundred meters, but no harmful substances were detected in inspections, and the river has reportedly already returned to a transparent state.

The bureau requested the company to implement improvement measures and also indicated its intention to proceed with a case investigation based on the law. Furthermore, by increasing the frequency of river monitoring and continuously tracking changes in water quality, it aims to ensure the safety of the ecosystem. (Translation/Editing: Kitada)