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Vietnam says it’s now safe to swim at most central beaches after toxic spill

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Villagers bury dead fish on a beach in Quang Binh, Vietnam in April. Toxic waste discharged from a Taiwanese-owned Formosa Plastics Group steel complex unit in central Vietnam harmed the livelihoods of more than 200,000 people, including 41,000 fishermen. Photo: AP

A Vietnamese government minister said it’s now safe to swim at most beaches in four central provinces where massive fish deaths occurred more than four months ago because of toxic chemicals released by a Taiwanese steel company.

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The online newspaper VnExpress quoted Environment Minister Tran Hong Ha as telling a conference on Monday that aquaculture is now also safe in most areas, but that research by the Ministry of Health is needed to determine whether it’s safe to eat fish caught within 37km off the coast of the four affected provinces.

Professor Mai Trong Nhuan, who headed a team of Vietnamese and foreign scientists commissioned by the government to study the impact of the disaster, told the conference that the chemicals, including cyanide and carbolic acids, are becoming more dilute, according to VnExpress.

Vietnamese activists hold photo of dead fish allegedly killed with toxic chemicals during a protest to urge Formosa Plastics Group to take responsibilities for the clean-up in Vietnam. Photo: AP
Vietnamese activists hold photo of dead fish allegedly killed with toxic chemicals during a protest to urge Formosa Plastics Group to take responsibilities for the clean-up in Vietnam. Photo: AP
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Nhuan said the marine ecosystem, including coral reefs, sea grasses and other marine resources that were seriously damaged, has begun to recover.

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