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On July 25, 2009, Zhu Guohua was on his fishing vessel checking fish cages one after another. He found nothing but dead fish and a foul odor. He claimed that he lost at least US$10,000.

According to Xin’an Evening News, the Department of Fisheries estimated that over 120 tons of fish died in the Zhegao River, Chaohu City, in eastern China’s Anhui Province. The initial estimated loss was US$86,000.

Zhu told the Epoch Times that there was a storm the night of July 22 and farmers discovered the Zhegao River had turned black the next day. “I have been working painstakingly for three years to raise these fish. We were planning to use the money to pay for the children’s tuition. Now we have nothing!” Zhu said.

There are 25 other fish farmers in Xiage Town who suffered the same loss.

The Chaohu City Bureau of Environmental Protection did an on-the-spot survey. They concluded that the storm on July 22 washed down polluted water from upstream. About six miles of the Zhegao River had been turned black.

Residents living along the river say they have stopped using the water.

Read the original Chinese article.