B3 Waste Pollutes Bengkalis Coast Riau

VIVAnews - A dangerous and toxic waste (B3) has been polluting Bengkalis east coast, Riau, since the last two weeks.

The dangerous waste is in form of black oil clot. The waste pollutes Selat Asam and Selat Baru beach, Bantan sub-district, Bengkalis. It is strongly suspected that pollution came from the oil tankers dumping their waste onto the Malaka traits water.

"After we checked with the local oil company, it has different characteristics. Thus, we strongly suspect that the B3 waste which pollutes the beaches came from the tankers dumping their waste into the sea," said head of the supervisory and control division of Bengkalis Environmental Agency (BLH), M Zainal Zahari, when contacted by VIVAnews in Pekanbaru on Monday, Feb. 16.

According to Zahari, the pollution has not resulted in any dead fish as of yet. However, if the situation remains the same for an extended period of time, it becomes a concern that the waste will threaten the sea biota and mangrove forest conservation.

"When the tide rises, the clot will be stuck on the mangrove trees. And when the tide subsides, the waste stays along the beach," he said.

Zahari said that the waste pollution often happens when the north wind blows to Indonesia. A temporary assumption on this matter is that the waste is dumped in Malaka traits and then carried by the wind to the Riau coast.

"We have reported this to the [State] Ministry of Environment for tools and team assistance to analyse the waste's content," said Zahari.

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(TV One)

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Translated by: Ariyantri E. Tarman