Environmental
Alarming fish die‑off in Lake Tanganyika linked to pollution
A mass fish kill in Lake Tanganyika near Uvira has triggered an environmental alert over untreated industrial and mining runoff contaminating water supplies for thousands.
Local authorities in South Kivu province have declared an environmental alert after a large‑scale fish die‑off in Lake Tanganyika near Uvira. Preliminary investigations by provincial environmental officers point to high levels of industrial effluent and mining runoff entering tributaries feeding the lake. The water shows elevated turbidity and chemical traces consistent with mining waste, posing risks to drinking‑water intakes used by riverside communities. Fishermen report losses of up to 70% of their daily catch, and health officials warn residents against consuming fish from the affected shoreline. The provincial environment ministry has ordered water‑quality testing and is working with mining companies to identify and halt leakage points.
- Status
- active
- Location
- Lake Tanganyika near Uvira, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Date added
- 2026-03-26 02:15 UTC
- Last updated
- 2026-03-26 02:15 UTC
- Source
- Radio Okapi
- Connected threats
- Not provided