Large number of dead fish in Al-Dalmaj Marsh alarms locals

DIWANIYAH, September 26 — Images obtained by 964 reveal a significant number of dead fish in the Al-Dalmaj Marsh, with the municipality attributing the cause to declining water levels and rising temperatures.

Hatim Mohammed, a local investor, expressed his surprise, stating: “We were surprised by the large number of fish deaths in the [waterway], which is the main source of water for the marsh. I believe that this may be deliberate, as in previous years, especially at this time, we witnessed similar acts of sabotage that resulted in the deaths of a large number of fish.”

Asaad Nadhim, the Director of the environmental department in Diwaniyah, explained: “The cause of fish mortality is usually due to declining water levels, rising temperatures, and an increase in salt concentrations. If it were indeed deliberate, large fish and other animals would have also perished, but we are confident that other factors are responsible for the deaths.”