Sarandí River in Buenos Aires Turns Bright Red from Suspected Dye Leak

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A small river in greater Buenos Aires, known as the Sarandí, has alarmed local residents after turning a deep red on February 6, 2025, reportedly due to an industrial dye leak. The river, located in the municipality of Avellaneda, approximately six miles south of Argentina's capital, has long been a site of pollution complaints from the community. According to local residents cited by La Verdad, a strong and "nauseating" odor has been emanating from the water, with suspicions directed towards a nearby tannery.

Resident María Ducomls described the river's appearance as akin to a "bloody stream" and expressed frustration over the ongoing pollution, stating, “You don’t need to be an inspector to realise just how polluted the poor Sarandí creek is.” The regional environment department has initiated an investigation, stating that samples from the contaminated water would undergo chemical analysis to identify the organic substances causing the discoloration. Reports indicate that the river's coloring began to fade later that day.

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