Toxic pollution fears

Moscow: Conservation group WWF said yesterday unexplained toxic pollution off Russia’s far eastern coast was probably caused by a highly soluble substance as officials played down the scale of the problem and suggested it was not manmade.

Greenpeace raised the alarm last week over what it said looked like an ecological disaster off the coast of Kamchatka region, reposting images of dead sea life washed up on the coast. Surfers said they fell ill after getting into the water.

Yesterday, Greenpeace said activists had found yellowish foam on the ocean’s surface in several places and dead sea animals in one location, and that the water was murky.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Dmitry Kobylkin said initial tests of water and land samples showed no evidence of elevated levels of oil or oil products.

Dmitry Lyasov, a surfer, said many people at a local surfing camp had fallen ill after getting into the water.

‘‘I didn’t vomit, but dozens have done, and then they had fevers of up to 38degC and body pain. And I’m now seeing double. I had good eyesight, but now after seeing a doctor I’ve been told my sight has got worse.’’ — Reuters