Tons of fish die in Lushnjë after reservoir drained for sluice-gate reconstruction

Tons of fish have died in the Kasharaj reservoir in Lushnjë after a sharp drop in the water level.

Initial suspicions were that the reservoir might have dried up due to lack of rainfall. According to information made public, however, the drop in the water level is linked to the draining of the reservoir ahead of works the Municipality of Lushnjë is expected to begin on reconstructing the outlet gate.

The draining has left parts of the reservoir muddy with very little water, causing large numbers of fish to die.

Footage shows scores of dead fish scattered across the reservoir bed, as Euronews Albania reports.

It remains unclear whether any measures were taken to relocate or protect the aquatic wildlife before the reservoir was drained, and what the full environmental damage is.