Polluted river where 50 fish were found dead now 'safe'

After a fire and explosion at a chemical plant, there is no longer a need to keep pets or livestock away from a river, officials said.

Around 50 dead fish were found in the nearby River Alyn following the fire at the Synthite factory on Denbigh Road in Mold, Flintshire, on April 30.

Natural Resources Wales said monitoring showed pollution levels had since “declined sharply” and were now in the “safe range”.

It said the impact on biodiversity was “limited to the immediate stretch of river near the factory fire and fish are now returning to the area.”

“There is no longer a need to keep pets or livestock out of the water,” it says.

“The multi-agency cleanup and recovery phase will continue in the coming weeks.”

It said staff would continue routine water sampling at the river.

Polluted river where 50 fish were found dead now ‘safe’