Drought in Mexico: Thousands of fish die as lake dries up

Thousands of fish have died when a lagoon in northern Mexico partially dried up due to a severe drought that is hitting the country.

The water level in the Bustillos lagoon is less than 50 percent lower than normal, local authorities said on Wednesday. This means that pollutants are more concentrated and pose a danger to the species living there.

A week ago, dead fish piled up in the cracked mud of the lake bed, and on Wednesday a foul odor hung over the area as workers cleared away the decaying remains, fearing they could spread disease.

All of Mexico is battling high temperatures; heat records have been broken in a dozen cities, including the capital.

According to health authorities, 125 people have died in the current heat season, which began in mid-March.