XI'AN - Local authorities on Tuesday blamed enterprises along the Bahe River for discharging sewage that killed a huge amount of fish in Northwest China's Shaanxi province in the past few days.

As rain poured on Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi, last Friday, some small enterprises discharged untreated waste into the river, attempting to take advantage of its rising water levels to evade sewage discharge monitoring, according to Xi'an water bureau.

Xi'an residents have reported dead fish and unusually high concentrations of moss in the Bahe River, as well as a stench emanating from the waterway, since last week.

Local water authorities have organized personnel to investigate at the scene after receiving the public tip-offs.

According to preliminary investigation, about 30,000 kg of fish have died in the river due to sewage discharged by some small enterprises.

Local environmental departments are still testing the sewage, and further investigation is under way.