We have reported our findings to the national police of Indonesia through the Riau Islands PoliceTanjungpinang, Riau Islands (ANTARA) - Black sludge has polluted Senggiling beach, a tourist spot on Bintan island, Riau Islands province, for the past few days, and a preliminary probe by police suspected it was from waters near Malaysia and Singapore.
The Bintan police had conducted investigations into the sludge and had reported it to the National Police of Indonesia, Bintan Police chief, Police Commissioner Boy Herlambang said.
"We have reported our findings to the national police of Indonesia through the Riau Islands Police," Herlambang added.
They deal with this issue every year, locals who were roaming the polluted beach said. "We expect the Indonesian government to help us out," Iman Ali, head of an indigenous community in Bintan, said, Wednesday.
The sludge hurt the livelihood of fishermen as their fishing nets were contaminated, he stated. "I feel sorry for the fishermen because the sludge sticks to their fishnets," Ali remarked.
It was not just the fishermen who were hurt by the polluted beach but tour operators in Senggiling beach as well, according to Ali. The oil had contaminated the beach's white sand and crystal blue waters.
Apart from Senggiling beach, the sludge also polluted some coastal villages in Bintan Island, such as Kawal and Teluk Bintan, Malang Rapat, and Berakit. (INE)
Related news: Bintan island prone to water crisis annually: expert
Related news: Some tourist resorts in Bintan cease operations over corona outbreak
Reporter: Nikolas Panama/Genta Tenri Maw
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
