Thousands of dead tilapia were floating in Cañacao Bay, Cavite City, according to Mayor Denver Chua.

In a Facebook live on Monday, Nov. 13, thousands of dead fish were swept under the houses by the bay, prompting an immediate action from the local government unit (LGU).

“Sa ngayon po, meron na pong mahigit 30 sako na nailagay na po at nalinis pero ito napakarami pa rin po, libo-libo po ito [...] Ito po ay napaka-delikado dahil maamoy na, amoy na amoy na po rito yung masangsang na amoy at malansa,” Chua said.

According to the residents interviewed by the Cavite City Mayor, the putrid stench began on Sunday evening, Nov. 12, but the gravity of it was only seen early Monday.

“Upon report po, nag-umpisa po ito at nakita nila ngayong umaga lang po [...] Yun nga ang problema, may mga tao po tayo rito, mga bata, na dito po nakatira ngayon. Kagabi naamoy na medyo mabaho na so pinag-aaralan namin kung saan galing yung mga isda kasi sobrang dami,” he added.

Chua noted that this was a huge concern for the people in Cavite, especially since people’s livelihood would bear the brunt of this event.

“Ito po sa mga malaking concern kasi dito po sa Cavite City, napakarami pong umaasa sa dagat at kung magtatagal po yung gantong klaseng fish kill ay [makakaapekto] sa hanapbuhay ng mga kababayan namin sa lungsod ng Cavite,” he said.

The Cavite City Mayor underscored that they started to mobilize teams nearby fish ponds to figure out the cause of the fish kill.

“Nag-mobilize na rin po tayo ng mga tropa para mag-ikot sa mga karatig nating fish pond at silipin kung doon ba nanggaling itong fish kill na ito. Hindi na po biro ito, napakarami na po,” he added.