Hundreds of dead fish found in Madrid

HUNDREDS of dead fish have been found in the ManzanaresRiver in Madrid.

The barbels, pike, European bullheads and carp were found near the Segovia bridge which is one of the most popular areas of the Madrid Rio fluvial park.

The cause may have been the sudden need to release water from the Manzanares reservoirs, meaning the fish, some of up to four kilos, died from lack of oxygen.

The sudden drop in the water level left hundreds of fish dying in the mud along a two-kilometre stretch of the river.

Environmentalists in Action blame the Tajo Water Confederation and other institutions, and say that the water is stored to make the river appear to have a greater flow, rather than keeping its natural flow, with less water.

Meanwhile, Madrid city hall said that releasing water was a normal procedure carried out for safety, and said that more was due to be released from other reservoirs in the area.