Oil slicks float on the river as responders use absorbent pads to soak them up in Quang Ngai Province, central Vietnam, December 2025. Photo by Thach Thao
A diesel spill at an oil depot in the Dung Quat Economic Zone has polluted fields, canals and rivers, killing fish en masse and putting the upcoming winter–spring rice crop at risk, authorities say.
For the past three days, the area around the Bau Ca Cai River in the central province of Quang Ngai has been overwhelmed by the smell of diesel after fuel leaked during a transfer operation at Sub-Depot 85 of Depot 182 under the Department of Petroleum.
Thick oil slicks have coated newly plowed fields, sticking to mud and forming floating patches. Dead fish have been seen across irrigation canals and stretches of Dam River and Bau Ca Cai River.
The spill comes just as farmers were preparing to sow rice. Many have already soaked their seeds but cannot plant them due to contamination.
“The seeds are ready, but we can’t sow. We may lose the entire season,” a resident said.
Ung Dinh Hien, chairman of the Van Tuong Commune People’s Committee, said improper technical handling during fuel transfer on Dec. 24 caused diesel to overflow into the drainage system. Initial estimates show around 15 hectares of rice fields and more than 3 hectares of aquaculture ponds, nearly 18 hectares in total, have been affected.
Local officials have ordered an urgent cleanup using containment booms and absorbent materials to prevent further spread. Damage assessments are ongoing, and the commune is preparing reports to seek provincial support for affected households.
Environmental experts warn diesel contains toxic compounds that can linger in soil and water if not properly treated, threatening agriculture, fisheries and local ecosystems for a long time.
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