The water in a river mysteriously turned a deep shade of red, leaving fish lifeless in its wake in southern China.

The video was filmed in the city of Huizhou in Guangdong Province on May 20.

Eyewitnesses described the surreal sight of the river resembling a flow of crimson paint. Local environmental authorities swiftly responded, attributing the alarming phenomenon to the discharge of coloured dye into the water.

An immediate investigation was launched to trace the source of the contamination.

A witness, who works near the river, recounted how on May 20, at noon, the water transformed into a vivid red hue, a surreal occurrence that persisted until late evening.

By 10 a.m. on May 21, the river's colour had returned to normal, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the environmental concern.

Authorities from the Huizhou City Ecology and Environment Bureau revealed that preliminary investigations pointed towards the entry of dyed substances into the river.

Emergency measures were promptly enacted, including containment efforts and water quality monitoring, while a thorough probe commenced to identify the responsible party behind the contamination.

Legal actions against the implicated entities are underway as the environmental department remains vigilant in safeguarding Chenjiang River's ecosystem.

The video was provided by local media with permission.

Thousands of fish killed after dye floods into water from local factory
5月20日，广东省惠州市仲恺高新区陈江镇陈江河一段河水变成红色，有鱼儿死亡。5月21日，当地环保部门回应称有染色色浆进入河中，正在展开溯源调查。
据一名目击者介绍，陈江河正好从他工作的单位旁边流过，20日中午，她看到陈江河的河水变成了红色，这种状况一直持续到当天晚上。21日上午10时许，河水的颜色已经恢复了正常。
5月21日，惠州市生态环境局一名工作人员介绍，经了解，陈江河河水变红是因为染色色浆进入河里，他们的同事昨日已到现场开展应急处置，对被染色的河水进行拦截，对河水水质进行应急监测，并进行溯源调查。环保部门正在对涉嫌此事的企业进行立案调查。