Dead fish, foul tap water, and a criminal investigation: what’s happening to the Tura River in Russia’s Tyumen region

Residents of Tyumen in Russia are dealing with a cascading environmental crisis. Per Meduza, the Tura River that runs through the city has experienced a massive die-off of fish, with dead fish heaped along the banks. The tap water has taken on a foul smell, with residents reporting it reeks of rotten algae, kerosene, and swampy water. Some residents have blamed the tap water for health problems including conjunctivitis, cystitis, and intestinal infections, though officials say a direct link hasn't been confirmed. The underlying cause: record rainfall in June—two point six times the normal monthly precipitation—washed organic matter into the river, which consumed nearly all the oxygen in the water. Officials have opened a criminal investigation into water safety violations and recommended residents drink only bottled water and boil tap water before use. The Tura's water level has reached eight hundred forty-six centimeters, approaching the critical threshold of eight hundred fifty, putting one hundred forty-six homes at risk of flooding.

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