THE mystery of how hundreds of Cambodians were poisoned has been solved,
the country’s industry minister said on Thursday after it was found a
goldmine in northeastern provinces has been releasing toxic substances
into a local river.
Residents of Kratie and Mondulkiri provinces have been fed conflicting
reports by the government over the last week as to how more than 200
inhabitants were hospitalised and 14 people killed. After a number of
inaccurate reports, they were beginning to lose faith of ever getting an
answer.
According to Radio Free Asia, the government first blamed water tainted with pesticides and then methanol-laced rice wine for the tragedy.
Minister of Industry and Handicraft Cham Prasidh said that experts from
the ministry examined the water in the river of Prek Te in Kratie and
found chromium and cyanide. The substances were found at various mining
sites between Kratie and neighboring Mondulkiri and the ministry
believed that they were improperly handled and that rain washed them
into the river.
People searching gold on Tonle Sap river. Source: meunierd/Shutterstock
The ministry added that the stream water had a chromium level of 173
micrograms per litre, while the maximum allowable level is just 50
micrograms per litre.
The water also had a nitrate level from seven to 23 milligrams per
litre, while the maximum allowable level is just three milligrams per
litre.
Just a week earlier, villagers were told that officials from the
provincial mines and energy department visited the area and determined
that gold mining had no role to play in the tragedy. They reiterated
their story that methanol-laced rice wine was to blame for the spate of
illness.
Shortly after the Kratie deaths were reported 80 indigenous ethnic
Phnorng residents of four villages in Mondulkiri province fell ill after
drinking contaminated water from a stream that had long been the source
of drinking water for the area.
According to The Khmer Times,
a doctor from one of the local hospitals said those seeking medical
attention complained of feeling dizzy and had difficulty breathing.
Cham Prasidh said the government will take action against mining outfits responsible for the pollutants.
