Forensic experts will examine the soil and vegetation lining of a river between Newcastle and Dundee after cyanide leaked into the water last week.
The KZN Environmental Affairs Department says samples will be taken today from the Ngagane River in northern KwaZulu-Natal to determine the concentration of the deadly chemical, how far it has travelled downstream and if it has reached the Dundee area.
The cyanide, which leaked from a Newcastle factory into the river, killed a dozen cows that had drank from the water.
The Department's Jeffrey Zikhali says experts will also test for other chemicals which might have contaminated the river. He says they should have conclusive results by the end of the week.
"We hope at this stage that it's only the cattle that will be affected. We immediately put chlorine in the water to try and neutralise the chemical, [and] we are hoping that no further damage will be done to the environment," he said.
Zikhali says the department will notify the affected communities when the river is safe again for domestic use and swimming.
- East Coast Radio
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