Environmental concerns rise over sludge from copper ore processing plant in northern Vietnam

The flow of a stream of sludge from a copper ore processing plant in Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam into the environment has raised concerns over water and soil pollution. Thousands of cubic meters of water and sludge from copper ore processing barreled through Ta Phoi Commune in Lao Cai City of Lao Cai Province on August 8. Tran Van Hung, chairman of the Ta Phoi People’s Committee, said the flowing was caused by the breakage of a reservoir owned by Ta Phoi Copper Company. Crops are buried in ore processing sludge in Ta Phoi Commune, Lao Cai City, Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam. Ore processing sludge floods a stream in Ta Phoi Commune, Lao Cai City, Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam.