Continuous heavy rain likely behind fish deaths at Danau Kota lake, says DBKL

PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) says the recent mass death of fish in Tasik Taman Danau Kota may have been caused by continuous heavy rain, which affected the lake’s water quality.

DBKL said initial observations found that continuous heavy rain led to a drop in dissolved oxygen levels, changes in water quality, and the entry of sediment and pollutants into the lake.

“Such factors create stress on aquatic life and can affect fish survival,” it said in a statement today.

DBKL said Tasik Taman Danau Kota was a recreational lake that also functioned as a flood retention pond, and that similar fish deaths had occurred at several other lakes and flood retention ponds in the city.

It said rainwater flowing into lakes from nearby areas usually carried sediment, organic matter, rubbish, and pollutants from drainage systems.

DBKL said it immediately removed the dead fish to prevent further water pollution and installed rubbish traps at the lake’s inlets. The environment department also took water samples for analysis.

“DBKL will continue to monitor the lake and carry out appropriate measures to ensure that the recreational area remains safe, clean, and comfortable for residents,” it said.

Social media users recently reported that dead fish floating on the surface of Tasik Taman Danau Kota were emitting a foul smell and raised concerns about water quality.

Some said the fish had been there for a few days and that an official report had been lodged with DBKL.