Pollution in Turkey’s western Izmir Bay sparks warning of major environmental disaster

KATHMANDU: Turkey’s Environment Minister, Murat Kurum, announced on Thursday a potential large-scale environmental disaster in the western Izmir Bay.

This announcement came after a strong odor spread throughout the area, following the mass death of fish in recent weeks.

During his visit to the affected region, Minister Kurum warned of a dangerous drop in oxygen levels in the bay’s waters due to land-based pollution.

He explained that pollution from the land is causing severe respiratory issues in the marine ecosystem.

Normally, oxygen levels should be around 6 milligrams per liter, but they have fallen to as low as 1.8 milligrams, and in some areas, have even dropped to zero.