CNN —Thousands of dead fish have blanketed the surface of a lagoon in Mexico’s northern state of Chihuahua, with local officials blaming an intense drought. Chihuahua state has been hit particularly hard with most of its territory engulfed by the most extreme levels of dryness. Mass fish deaths in the area have happened in previous years when the lagoon dried up, stranding fish. A municipal worker spreading quicklime over dead fish to reduce the stench, at the dry bed of the Bustillos Lagoon on June 7, 2024. At the lagoon, local authorities are racing to cover the dead fish with quicklime, concerned their rapid decomposition under the baking sun could endanger public health by attracting insects and spreading disease.

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Persons: Irma de la Pena, “, De la Pena, Jose Luis Gonzalez, ”, Jesus Maria Palacios, Saul Sausameda Organizations: CNN, Ecology Department, Reuters, Reuters Livestock Locations: Chihuahua, Anahuac, Mexico, Cuauhtemoc