Chile’s government has temporarily banned the consumption of sardines in the south of the country after hundreds of thousands of dead fish turned up floating along the shores of Queule River.

Television news footage showed masses of the lifeless silver fish more than a foot deep choking the waters in and around the river shores and boats.

At the weekend the authorities began clearing the shore lines. Experts are still investigating the cause of the death and any possible risk to human health.

Local media also reported that authorities were removing the sardines to a dumping site and banned the consumption of the fish, in case it poses a human threat.

The same phenomenon happened last month: