Climate change blamed for massive fish deaths in Philippines

Local officials are blaming climate change for the deaths of around 49 metric tonnes of fish found dead in Sebu Lake in the south Philippines province of South Cotabato.

The local Tilapia fish, in 50 cages, was valued at 3.8 million pesos (USD88,000), Rex Vagas, a provincial fishery coordinator, told a local radio station. He said 46.5 tonnes of Tilapia were found dead last Friday and 2.5 tonnes on Monday.

He attributed the massive death of fish to a condition the locals call "kamahong" when water temperature rises.

Fish cage operators were told by the provincial agriculture office to temporarily stop feeding the surviving fish to allow water's oxygen level to return to normal.