Normally, when we decide to go to a specific destination, it is because we want to be impressed with its buildings, monuments, culture and tradition ..., but in the case of Mailuu Suu, what stands out the most is the pollution present in this city. In fact, it is quite well positioned within the ranking of the most polluted in the world, ranking number 7. This is something that, obviously, no one can be proud of.
The population of Mailuu Suu it continues to live today in what used to be its beautiful green valleys, now converted, thanks to human contamination, into landfills and deposits of extremely dangerous uranium waste. In addition, it is worth mentioning that the poorest inhabitants coexist with the polluted river from which not only their animals but themselves feed, which further accentuates the problem.
Mailuu Suu is a city located in Kyrgyzstan, a little-known country that borders the Fergana Valley, the most fertile region in all of Central Asia. In its surroundings there are a total of 23 uranium mines which, while benefiting their neighbors economically, also cause considerable problems for those people who live along the banks of the river, along with the uranium waste. As if that were not enough, there are also various piles of scrap with radioactive waste.
Many people eat fish from these waters, thus exposing themselves to radionuclide contamination, which could cause very serious diseases, such as cancer, anemia o birth malformations.
The situation gets even more difficult in the spring time. Why? Well, the reason is that due to the work and its geological situation, landslides are produced, something that together with the melted snow, the pollutants from uranium waste go directly to the Mailuu Suu River. Once there, the population, not only of Mailuu Suu, but also of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, are exposed to a danger that harms their health. In other words, it is no longer a local problem but an international one. One more reason to worry about pollution and weather changes.
Another problem, especially for children, is that on the banks of the river uranium seepage on the surface is not visible. In this area is where the little ones continue to play with the cattle that they graze. And since they are not seen, it is as if there is nothing to worry about, when the reality is very different.
Mailuu Suu, a time bomb
This city has become a time bomb, which could explode at any moment, thus causing one of the largest, if not the largest, ecological disaster in Central Asia. Stored there million cubic meters of radioactive waste that harm people, everyone, whether they are children, adults or the elderly.
With a population of 16.953 inhabitants, the most frequent danger they must face is landslides. During the spring they are a very common phenomenon. Unfortunately, in addition to material damage, they sometimes cause injuries and even deathly victims.
While there are some retaining walls, put in place to try to contain the uranium dumping, these they can collapse at any timeWell, as we say, land avalanches are very common, and are often 3-4 meters deep.
Why is Mailuu Suu one of the most polluted cities in the world?
It all started in 1946, when uranium began to be mined for the former Soviet Union. In 1973 the mines were closed, burying or leaving the waste underground or piled up in the first place they found, that is, in the open air, knowing that uranium is highly toxic. Thus, the inhabitants live in fear that one day there may be a major disaster.
In the past the Soviet Union acted badly, but afterwards the problem continued as the post-communist Kyrgyz Administration hardly invested anything to try to find a solution. As a result of what appears to be a full-blown abandonment and the carelessness shown by the authorities, in Mailuu Suu you breathe air that has a level of radion particles that exceeds the limits of human tolerance. As if this wasn't enough, too there is a high risk of earthquakes, since it is a geologically favorable region.
It only remains to wait for effective measures are taken so that a tragedy from which many people could be affected does not occur.
Thus, Mailuu Suu went from being an impressive city, surrounded by clean and pure nature, to being a city in which it is not advisable to travel. You can get closer if the appropriate protection and security measures are taken to prevent your health from being harmed; otherwise you won't be able to get there.
Have you heard of this city, the seventh most polluted in the world?