Poland, Germany discuss avoiding repeat of deadly river pollution but ready for all scenarios

The environment ministers of Poland and Germany have met on the border of the two countries to discuss protection of a river against a repeat of deadly pollution that killed hundreds of tons of fish last year. Polish Environment Minister Anna Moskwa said Wednesday that she couldn’t rule out the occurrence of another disaster despite tight monitoring along the Oder River and the blocking of the illegal discharge of chemicals and waste in order to prevent the growth of deadly golden algae. The Oder River is about 840 kilometers (520 miles) long and starts in Czech Republic. It mostly runs through southwestern Poland and along the border with Germany before emptying into the Baltic Sea.