Milky danger in the Rhine: Who contaminates the waters of Mainz?

Milky danger in the Rhine: Who contaminates the waters of Mainz?

On March 13, 2025, a milky liquid was discovered in the Rhine near Mainz that caused residents to alert. Citizens reported the irregular appearance of the emergency call, whereupon the fire brigades of Mainz and Wiesbaden immediately took measures. These built oil barriers in several places, including the Mainz Winterhafen and in front of the Schierstein and Rüdesheim ports, to contain the spread of the liquid. The incident has triggered emergency reactions from the authorities, since the origin and the chemical composition of the liquid have so far been unclear.

As the Water Protection Police Ludwigshafen announced, the milky film was first noticed in Worms. There, the fire brigade took rehearsals of the liquid, the results of which are still standing. According to a spokesman for the water protection police, no binding assessment of the danger of the material has so far been given. However, a great danger has not yet been suspected. While the milky liquid has already spread to Wiesbaden, neither dead fish nor other animals were found. Plants also did not react to the liquid.

origin and effects

The authorities suspect that the milky, mineral oil -containing liquid came from a boat to the Rhine and drives down the river. The contamination ensures concern on several sections of the Rhine. The exact identification of the material is important for the benefit of the environment, since it is known that mineral oil can be harmful to the ecosystem. The fact that the liquid in the Rhine system is considered "floating" is an additional challenge, since the high flow speed of the water is removing the liquid or. Removing hardly enables.

The oil barriers have been set up to prevent further environmental damage, and shipping traffic in the affected ports is temporarily discontinued. Authorities are now working on clarifying the situation, and investigations are currently underway to determine whether the liquid has been deliberately poured into the Rhine. The feedback from the citizens and the quickly initiated measures by the fire brigade and water protection police show the seriousness of the situation.

The events around the milky liquid represent a significant environmental use that illustrates the cooperation between various emergency services in Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse. The authorities hope to get further information about the composition of the liquid and its possible effects on the environment in the coming days. This situation remains tense, while the investigation into the origin of the contamination is progressing.

For more information about this incident, visit the detailed reporting on Tagesschau.de . Also tag24.de offers news about the situation.