Chemical spill contaminates Daugava

RIGA -- A chemical spill in the Marupite stream has seeped into the Daugava river.

The chemical spill is the result of a warehouse fire that swept through the "Baltais vējš" warehouse late Sunday night. The chemicals -- mostly detergents, disinfectants and other household cleaning products -- initially spilled into the Marupite stream before seeping into Maras pond in Pardaugava. From there the chemicals flowed into the Daugava.

No people have so far been harmed by the spill. Residents of the area around Maras pond, however, have been told not to use well water and are being given fresh water supplies from the municipal government.

Officials estimate that the spill will cost at least 100,000 Lats to clean up. "Eko osta" workers have already managed to stop further chemicals from flowing into the water.

Hundreds of fish and other wildlife that live around Maras pond and the Marupite have been found dead as a result of the spill.

Experts say that the current concentration of chemicals in the Daugava is very low.