It’s like something out of a horror movie. A foul-smelling, toxic foam is spreading in the Colombian city of Mosquera. Streets and houses disappear under the disgusting blanket. And the residents have to flee, like the «Guardian» reported.
The reason: the city has a huge waste problem. Local environmental officials said the toxic scum is due to the increased dumping of waste, chemicals and cleaning products into the river system. It has also rained a lot lately. This mixture then resulted in the toxic foam.
A well-known problem
But according to the mayor of Mosquera, Gian Gerometta, this is not the only reason. The pollution is also partly due to a clogging of the river caused by plants. However, it is not clear whether this is actually the case.
Although the foam in Mosquera is not the first time, it has never happened that such a large amount has spilled over.
The foam is becoming more and more of a torture for the residents. “The smell is terrible and we have had to endure this foam for a long time,” says community leader Luz Mariela Gomez, as the “Guardian” further reports.
“It is important that children are kept away”
Photos show the extent of the foam wave. Sidewalks are no longer accessible and the road to a school is even completely blocked.
Because the foam can cause respiratory problems and skin irritation, authorities have urged residents to stay away.
“It is important that children are kept away as we do not yet know exactly what this material is regarding,” Edwin Garcia, an environmental official with the Colombian government, told local radio station Caracol.
Sewage treatment plant is supposed to expel the foam forever
One is already in the process of solving the problem once and for all, so Garcia. A sewage treatment plant should fix it. The plant, which has been under construction since 2020, is intended to detoxify the river and spare the population from the foam in the future.
“We will monitor and clean the entire river to prevent the foam from accumulating any further.” (ced)