THE river has always been a reliable source of clean water for civilisation. Therefore, it is quite an ominous statement to find the denizens of the river dying en-masse, a strong indication that its life-giving properties have been compromised.
And perhaps that was what a jogger felt when she saw the many dead fishes floating on the surface of the Melaka river some day back.
Is there some illegal discharge of chemicals happening around the place? It is as frightening as it is saddening.
Tengah best jogging dekat Sungai Melaka tiba tiba nampak banyak ikan mati. Mana pihak majlis tak buat kerja ke? 😅 pic.twitter.com/JrAH6bqDHi
— kamaghul deghaman (@kamaghul) June 29, 2025
The video was further backed by reports stating that thousands of freshwater fishes have died along the Phase Two of the Melaka River.
According to Kota Laksamana assemblyman, Low Chee Leong, the Melaka River and Beach Development Corporation had mobilised more than 30 employees to carry out comprehensive cleaning work along the affected area, jointly with the Historical Melaka City Council.
News portal The Star further pointed out that a check of Friday revealed that the water in the river had turned black and was emitting a foul odour.
But how polluted does a river have to be to kill the fishes. One of the most common causes of fish deaths is low dissolved oxygen (DO) levels.
Fish, like humans, need oxygen to survive, but instead of breathing air, they absorb oxygen dissolved in water through their gills.
When pollutants such as sewage, agricultural runoff, or decaying organic matter enter a river, they increase the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD).
This means more oxygen is used up by bacteria breaking down the waste, leaving less available for fish. When DO levels fall below a critical level, such mass die-offs will occur.
Other pollutants can also cause direct harm. Toxic substances like heavy metals, pesticides, and industrial chemicals can poison fish quickly, damaging their organs and reproductive systems.
Sudden changes in pH, temperature, or turbidity can also disrupt fish health or suffocate them by clogging their gills. —June 30, 2025
Main image: @kamaghul (X)
