The Deputy Director of General Department of Environment Hoang Van Thuc has announced that waters off four central regions is now apparently safe for tourists.
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According to Thuc, the Centre for Environmental Monitoring monitored 12 locations from the deep to surface water in Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue provinces a year after the Formosa pollution disaster. Six of the monitored locations were in Ha Tinh, while each of the other provinces had two locations monitored.
The results of the water samples and sediment tests showed that the sea was apparently safe.
"We can confirm now that the water and sediment at the sea in the central region are completely safe," Thuc said.
He went on to say that the authorities were still collecting water samples once every two weeks from various locations in the central region. The centres for environmental monitoring have been carrying out the task after the Formosa incident.
"Since early this year, fishermen returned to work and have great catches. Some locations have enjoyed the return of tourists during the summer. The price of fish and squid near Vung Ang Industrial Zone has increased," he said.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment recently carried out inspections at Formosa and still discovered some violations about waste treatment. The ministry ordered Formosa to build necessary treatment systems.
On May 22, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha also claimed that the environment in the central region was safe.
"The most important thing is the quality of the discharge water. The authorities will monitor water quality, the system's operation and possible accidents. In the coming time, water will be reused after being discharged from lakes with bio-indicators. The water will be discharged on the surface, not underground. More equipment will be installed," he said.