Residents Alarmed as Buenos Aires River Turns Red
Bizarre/Strange
Friday 7th, February 2025
2 minute read.
A river in a suburb of Buenos Aires, Argentina, has mysteriously turned red, alarming local residents and prompting an official investigation.
Footage and images of the Sarandí watercourse— which flows into the Río de la Plata estuary—show a sudden and dramatic change in colour, sparking fears of contamination among those living nearby.
This is not the first time the river has changed colour, according to local media reports. Residents have long been concerned about pollution and its potential impact on their health and environment.
Locals have reported witnessing various unnatural hues in the river over time. One resident told La Nación:
"I have lived here all my life. Today, we have this red water. It has been grey, it has been green, it has been violet, bluish... very brown".
Another resident shared a similar concern with Página 12, "On other days we have a thick yellow layer that left the top hard and had an acidic smell".
Their concerns are not unfounded, as the changing colours and strange odours indicate possible industrial waste or chemical discharge into the watercourse.
In response to public concern, environmental officials have visited the site and collected water samples for laboratory analysis.
The region’s environment ministry told La Nación that the samples will be examined to determine what is causing the discolouration.
Experts suggest that industrial pollution could be responsible, with factories and businesses potentially dumping waste into the river. If confirmed, this could pose serious health and environmental risks.
The Sarandí watercourse is not the only body of water in Argentina facing pollution problems. Rivers across the country have been subjected to contamination from industrial waste, sewage, and agricultural runoff.
Environmentalists argue that stricter regulations and better enforcement are needed to prevent further degradation of Argentina’s waterways. Until authorities provide answers, residents remain on edge, hoping for a resolution that safeguards their community and natural surroundings.
More details are expected once the official test results are released.
Footage and images of the Sarandí watercourse— which flows into the Río de la Plata estuary—show a sudden and dramatic change in colour, sparking fears of contamination among those living nearby.
This is not the first time the river has changed colour, according to local media reports. Residents have long been concerned about pollution and its potential impact on their health and environment.
Locals have reported witnessing various unnatural hues in the river over time. One resident told La Nación:
"I have lived here all my life. Today, we have this red water. It has been grey, it has been green, it has been violet, bluish... very brown".
Another resident shared a similar concern with Página 12, "On other days we have a thick yellow layer that left the top hard and had an acidic smell".
Their concerns are not unfounded, as the changing colours and strange odours indicate possible industrial waste or chemical discharge into the watercourse.
In response to public concern, environmental officials have visited the site and collected water samples for laboratory analysis.
The region’s environment ministry told La Nación that the samples will be examined to determine what is causing the discolouration.
Experts suggest that industrial pollution could be responsible, with factories and businesses potentially dumping waste into the river. If confirmed, this could pose serious health and environmental risks.
The Sarandí watercourse is not the only body of water in Argentina facing pollution problems. Rivers across the country have been subjected to contamination from industrial waste, sewage, and agricultural runoff.
Environmentalists argue that stricter regulations and better enforcement are needed to prevent further degradation of Argentina’s waterways. Until authorities provide answers, residents remain on edge, hoping for a resolution that safeguards their community and natural surroundings.
More details are expected once the official test results are released.
