The environmental situation in the Papaloapan basin has reached a critical point after the discovery of thousands of specimens de peces Dead bodies float in the waters of the El Chino River and its tributaries. This ecological disaster, which began to appear in mid-June, has mobilized residents of towns like Nopaltepec and Cosamaloapan, who depend directly on the health of these ecosystems for their daily livelihoods and businesses. The first alarms were raised when local fishermen noticed a dark stain and a nauseating smell emanating from areas near industrial facilities.
Given the magnitude of the events, the State Environmental Protection Agency (PMA) and the Civil Protection Secretariat have taken action, intervening at the plant identified as primarily responsible. This is the Santander Agroindustrial Complex SA de RL, a distillery with a history of similar incidents in previous years. The suspension of operations was implemented after a thorough inspection that revealed several irregularities violating current regulations for the protection of natural resources and community safety.
Technical inspection and findings in the affected area
During the inspection carried out by technical personnel, a pipeline system was detected transporting vinasse—a highly polluting byproduct of alcohol production—directly to an adjacent property that connects to the Limón River. Although the company claimed to be performing maintenance and not engaged in production, inspectors found an accumulation of a dark brown , foul-smelling substance, accompanied by a large number of dead insects, confirming the leakage of waste into the public waterway.
The National Water Commission (Conagua) has joined the investigation by collecting physicochemical samples to evaluate dissolved oxygen levels in the water. This parameter is crucial to determining whether the distillery's discharges caused the anoxia that killed the fish. It is important to note that, although the plant has permits to discharge wastewater onto agricultural fields, an unauthorized branch of pipe was discovered diverting the waste directly into the nearest stream, exacerbating the impact on biodiversity.
Economic and social consequences for the region
The impact of this event is not only ecological, but also directly affects the livelihoods of thousands of families who depend on artisanal fishing in the La Miel lagoon area and its surrounding rivers. Leaders of fishing cooperatives have expressed their devastation, estimating that the full recovery of aquatic life could take up to five years , which represents a devastating economic blow for the communities of La Laja and 20 de Noviembre. The loss of tons of fish has created a social emergency that requires an immediate response from government institutions.
From the political sphere, there have been calls for the company to not only receive an administrative fine, but also to be required to repair the damage caused and compensate those affected. It has been noted that this industry was already sanctioned in 2013 and 2018, demonstrating a recurring lack of environmental awareness . Therefore, authorities have emphasized that the current sanctions will serve as an example to prevent the pursuit of economic gain by a few from resulting in the destruction of the natural heritage of all Veracruz residents.
The intervention of security forces was necessary to guarantee access for the experts to the facilities, after those responsible for the distillery initially attempted to block their entry. With the samples now in the laboratory and the plant sealed off, the focus is now on strict compliance with the NOM-001-SEMARNAT-2021 standard regarding discharges into national waters. The final resolution of the case will determine the amount of the fines and the urgent remediation measures that the company must implement to be able to resume its operations in the future, always under much closer government oversight.