It remains unclear why fish are dying in massive numbers in the Oder. The pollution is evidently spreading, and it could reach the Szczecin Lagoon by Saturday evening.

Therefore, the responsible ministry is urging residents to refrain from fishing and taking water from the Oder, regardless of the intended use. The responsible authorities in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are analysing water and fish samples.

The cause of the mass fish die-off in the Oder river is not yet clear. Laboratory analyses have so far provided no precise information on the water pollution and its causes. There are suspicions that the cause of the environmental disaster lies in Poland, and accusations have already been voiced in Germany that the neighbouring country did not inform authorities in time and failed to follow the usual reporting chain for such events.

Collection of fish begins

The Mayor of Schwedt, Annekathrin Hoppe, has described the fish die-off in the Oder as an "environmental disaster of unprecedented scale". A. Hoppe told rbb-Inforadio that staff at the national park in the lower reaches of the Oder are concerned about the long-term consequences. The city leader emphasised that tourism, as well as grazing and fishing, would also be severely affected.

An operation to collect fish has begun in Schwedt on the Oder. A. Hoppe explained that emergency services are equipped with protective suits, as it is assumed that substances hazardous to human health are involved.

The Unteres Odertal National Park in Schwedt was established over 25 years ago and is the only wetland national park in Germany. The area on the German-Polish border is around 50 kilometres long, covers an area of over 10,000 hectares, and stretches along the western bank of the Oder from Hohensaaten in the south to Stützkow in the north. Waterfowl and other migratory birds use this area as a resting place.