Residents who rely on the Sabeto River in Nadi have been advised against swimming, fishing, or using the water for washing until further notice due to recent contamination concerns. This warning was issued following the discovery of dead fish and eels in the area, which began to appear last week. The contamination incident is reportedly linked to a discharge from a mining company, Lion One Metals Limited, which released water with elevated copper levels last Thursday evening.
Lion One’s Chief Operations Officer, Patrick Hickey, acknowledged that the event stemmed from human error resulting from a miscommunication between their mills’ operational team and the environmental department. He noted that certain fish species in the vicinity were particularly vulnerable to copper, although tilapia appeared to be unaffected.
The headman of Korobebe Village, Rovate Navilalutu, expressed his frustration following the incident. He stated he was initially notified by the mine manager but felt insufficient details were provided about the potential hazards. Many villagers, unaware of the contamination risks, had already consumed some of the affected fish.
The Fiji Council of Social Services has raised concerns about the impact of this incident on local livelihood and has called for thorough assessments to hold the responsible parties accountable. Similarly, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) is conducting investigations and has confirmed that they received a formal complaint regarding the alleged discharge of hazardous substances.
Lion One Metals has since apologized for the incident and assured that they are taking steps to prevent a recurrence, including improving their communication strategies. They are committed to addressing the concerns of the local community and providing support to those affected.
The situation has highlighted the importance of effective communication and responsive actions between mining operations and local communities, particularly in contexts where environmental health directly impacts the livelihoods of residents. Ongoing investigations by the MECC underscore the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and integrity of local ecosystems.
In light of these events, there remains hope that collaborative efforts between the mining company and the affected communities will lead to stronger environmental practices and better management of natural resources. This incident serves as a vital reminder of the need for vigilance in environmental stewardship to safeguard both community health and local ecosystems.
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