Prosecutors blame Brazil sugar plant for tons of fish rotting in river

By Jorge Silva

PIRACICABA, Brazil (Reuters) - Tons of dead fish are rotting in the Piracicaba River in Sao Paulo state downstream from where local authorities say a sugar and ethanol plant dumped industrial waste this month.

Public prosecutors said ongoing investigations by state environmental agency Cetesb made a conservative estimate of as many as 20 tonnes of dead fish in the river about 200 km (125 miles) northwest of the state capital.

On Thursday, the fish had been rotting for more than a week, casting a stench over the area. Bloated fish carcasses buoyed on the surface of the river, some tangled up in vegetation.

The Piracicaba River crosses the protected Tanqua area, known for the biodiversity of its tropical wetlands.

In a statement, the prosecutors said the impact of the dumping may be felt for years to come, considering the severity and scale of what they called an "environmental disaster".

Locals were concerned about the impact on their communities.

"It pains me, to see all these fish dead," said fisherman Ronaldo Evangelista who struggled to hold back tears as he overlooked the river. "Now what will happen to us?"

Usina São José Açucar e Álcool, a nearby sugar and ethanol plant the state prosecutor accused of dumping the industrial waste, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Brazilian broadcaster Globo reported that the company had said it was cooperating with the investigation, and that so far there was no proof it had caused the damages.

(Reporting by Jorge Silva; Writing by Stefanie Eschenbacher; Editing by Brad Haynes and by Sandra Maler)