The Iskitimka river of Kemerovo city has turned beetroot-red as the inhabitants and animals of the town remain surprised, Daily Mail reported quoted local reports.

Located in southern Russia, Kemerovo is an industrial city and the river runs through the apparent kingdom of contamination. Although pollution is held responsible for the discolouration, the pollutant is not identified. Locals have noticed that ducks have refused to enter the water, the report added.

According to the Daily Mail, Iskitimka is not the first river in Russia to have shown a change in colour. Another river in Russia had turned red after a major incidence of contamination by a mystery pollutant. Two other Russian rivers have previously suffered similar discolouration.

Officials from the Siberian Kemerovo reported that ducks were refusing to swim in the ‘toxic water’. They said the water came from a blocked drain in Kemerovo city, Daily Mail added.

Resident Andrey German said: “There are no ducks in the river, all are on the bank.It’s like borscht soup, but probably more poisonous.”

The report further stated that more than than 100 people falling ill due to toxic algal bloom covering nine tenths of Utah lake that has turned water bright green.