Toxic foam covers one of India’s most famous beaches
Children have been playing in ‘acrid’ white suds despite medical warnings

A toxic white foam has covered one of India’s most famous beaches, creating a new hazard in a country rife with pollution.
Children have been playing and taking selfies in the clouds of white suds, while fishermen have been told not to go into the sea, according to the South China Morning Post.
The warnings have also not stopped tourists from playing on the beach, AFP reports.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The foam, which the BBC reports is “caused by pollutants in sewage mixing with sea water and frothed up by waves”, is knee deep and has engulfed Marina Beach in Chennai, the largest urban beach in India.
The foam is reported to give off an “acrid smell”, with doctors warning that “skin problems could be caused by the foam”.
Pravakar Mishra, a scientist at the National Centre for Coastal Research in Chennai, said: “It is definitely not good for people to go into the foam but they just do not understand the risks.”
Mishra told AFP that only 40% of Chennai’s waste water is treated, while the rest of the sewage from the city – which is home to more than 7 million people – washes directly into the sea.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
The South China Morning Post reports that experts say heavy rain in recent days has carried untreated sewage and phosphate to the sea. The newspaper adds that authorities are also on alert for a repeat of a 2017 incident when thousands of fish were killed by pollution that hit beaches around the same time of year.
Local fishermen have complained that the value of fish has plummeted, with locals concerned that fish are contaminated by the foam after the events of 2017.
Air pollution has been a long-standing issue in India, with the Supreme Court recently threatening that states with particularly bad pollution levels may be forced to pay citizens compensation.
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of Taiwan
In the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdown
IN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
'Axis of upheaval': will China summit cement new world order?
Today's Big Question Xi calls on anti-US alliance to cooperate in new China-led global system – but fault lines remain
-
A private zoo run by Asia's richest family is facing criticism and investigations
Under the radar The zoo is owned by Anant Ambani, the son of Asia's richest person
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American cities
Under the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
Delhi's dogs earn Supreme Court reprieve
IN THE SPOTLIGHT After an outcry from the public and animal rights activists, India's Supreme Court walks back a controversial plan to round the city's stray dog population into shelters
-
India's fake weddings
Under The Radar New party trend promises all the fun of a wedding without any of the downsides
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctions
The Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish