An urgent investigation is underway and tests are being conducted following the discovery of dozens of dead fish in the Mzingazi canal in KwaZulu-Natal.

Dead fish littered the shoreline and were drifting with the tide in the Arboretum robot area and past Pelican Island.

This comes amid fears of the danger that the smoke plumes emanating from the burning NCT woodchip stockpile would pose to the environment.

The Mzingazi canal has progressively turned black since the woodchip blaze began, owing to fallout from ash and ember-filled smoke, and possibly stormwater run-off.

NCT general manager Danny Knoesen says the company is taking responsibility and engaging the relevant authorities on the matter.

“One of our fears, now that we have the fire under control, was that the smoke plumes would have some effect.

“We are definitely not shirking off the responsibility and we want to be involved in any rehabilitation that will be needed,” he adds.