Home
Thousands battle algae bloom in Olympic host city
Kazakhstan News.Net
Friday 4th July, 2008 (IANS)
Qingdao (China), July 4 (Xinhua) Thousands of soldiers and volunteers Friday in the eastern Chinese coastal city of Qingdao, where the Olympic sailing events would be held, were battling to clear a major algae bloom in the sea.
More than 1,200 vessels were at sea cleaning the foul-smelling algae, and inflatable barriers were placed near the coastline to prevent the algae from encroaching on the shore.
According to an emergency headquarter set up to clean the algae, enteromorpha prolifera, said its spread in the 50 km area, where the sailing competition would be held, has been reduced from 32 percent five days ago to less than 10 percent now.
Around 110,000 soldiers and volunteers have been engaged in efforts to clear the area from algae. The algae growth was first spotted in late May.
A government figure published Wednesday showed the algae had been nearly halved since late June, but 48.8 sq km area still remained infested by algae.
On Friday, dozens of boats were at sea gathering algae. An aerial survey was delayed as rain and fog grounded the helicopters. At beaches near the sailing base, soldiers were removing piles of green algae that were dragged out of the water.
'It's far better now than a few days ago. The water is clearer. Last week, the air around here smelt foul because of the algae. We all had to shut our windows,' said Zhang Xiaolei, whose office is near the coast.
By Thursday, about 285,000 tonnes of algae was removed from the water and seashore. Officials plan to clear the area of algae, before July 15.
Experts from the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) are working to determine the source and cause of the algae outbreak.
The algae also covered parts of a facility where sailors from more than 30 countries are training. The Olympic sailing competitions are scheduled to start here Aug 9.
 Email this story to a friend
Have your say on this story
|
 |
 |
- Boxer Jitender goes down valiantly to European Champion
Beijing, Aug 20 (IANS) Belying hopes of an Olympic medal, boxer Jitender Kumar went down fighting to European Champion Georgy Balakshin of Russia 11-15 in the quarterfinals of the flyweight (51kg) category at the Games here Wednesday. [read story]
- ADB, World Bank to help improve Pacific infrastructure
Manila, Aug 20 (Xinhua) The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Wednesday said it will cooperate with Australia, New Zealand and the World Bank to improve infrastructure in the Pacific Island countries. [read story]
- China urges France to respect its Tibet concerns
Beijing, Aug 20 (Xinhua) China Wednesday urged France to respect its concerns over the Tibet issue ahead of a meeting between the French foreign minister and Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama Friday. [read story]
- Indians, Chinese ignore video war against Anwar Ibrahim
Kuala Lumpur, Aug 20 (IANS) A night-long video war featuring the aide who has charged opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim with sodomising him is raging in the tiny Permatang Pauh constituency in Penang, where an electorate of less than 60,000 is swinging between the 'propah' and the profane. [read story]
- Sushil wrestles his way to a stunning bronze
Beijing, Aug 20 (IANS) Freestyle wrestler Sushil Kumar scored a stunning win over Kazakhstan's Leonid Spiridonov in the extra 30-second period after the third round of the 66 kg category to clinch a surprise bronze medal, when everyone had lost hope after his first round loss in the morning. [read story]
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
