Clean up begins of fancy Sentosa enclave choking on dead fish, pink water

Who would have thought living in one of Singapore’s most affluent communities would come with dead fish and pink waters?

Sentosa Cove, home to more than 2,000 seafront mansions, said yesterday that it had begun clearing out hundreds of dead fish floating in a canal that turned pink last week, a tell-tale sign of an algae bloom. 

Water activities in the area have been suspended while a government environmental agency investigates. 

“[Sentosa Cove Resort Management] has taken action to remove the dead fish at South Cove, and is working with the National Environment Agency on investigations, which are ongoing,” Sentosa management told Coconuts. 

The water was loaded with dead fish between Jan. 6 and 9, it added, but the color only changed days later. 

“As a precautionary measure, [Sentosa Cove Resort Management] has advised residents to refrain from water sport activities in the waterway. [Sentosa Cove Resort Management] will continue to monitor the waters,” they added.

NEA told reporters yesterday there was “no indication of any industrial or marine pollution” in the waters, noting that there were no other dead fish at nearby beaches. Several water samples have been collected and results are being processed.

Pink water and dead fish usually result from the rapid growth of algae, which consume oxygen and cause fish to suffocate to death.

Residents of the upscale seaside town began sharing photos and videos of the fouled waters Tuesday. One Cove resident, Marc Lansonneur, captured the dead fish lapping up against a berth on Sunday.

“Last Sunday morning Sentosa South Cove, very sad landscape,” he wrote.

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