According to the Ministry of Environment, a spillage or dump of fuel residuals caused the death of thousands of fish in Hatillo Dam. The source is unknown. Cecilio Carela, Deputy Minister of Coastal Marine Resources told El Siglo newspaper that studies of the Physics and Microbiology labs of the Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo point to this cause. He said an analysis carried out by the Dominican Institute of Technology (INDOTEC) lab discards the possibility of a presence of heavy metal in the waters. Carela explained the fish probably died from asphyxiation. The Ministry says they are investigating two asphalt plants that are located along the Yuna River. He said probably the dump or spillage was accidental. The substance is no longer affecting the fish in the artificial lake. He said that in an outing he caught 64 species, including bass, goldfish and sardines. The bass were the species most affected because it feeds from surface waters. He said fishing is back to normal at the dam.
