A channel in Argentina turned a vivid crimson, alarming scientists. The striking water color has raised concerns. (video)

On Thursday, February 6, the channel in the suburbs of Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, turned a bloody red, alarming local residents, authorities, and scientists alike. Photos and videos from the scene show the intensely colored water flowing into the mouth of the Río de la Plata river, which borders an ecological reserve, reports BBC.

Researchers are still uncertain about the exact cause of the vivid red hue, but some experts believe it may be due to the release of textile dye or chemical waste from a nearby warehouse.

According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection, their staff has already collected water samples from the Sarandí canal, and scientists plan to identify the cause of the color change shortly. By the end of the day, the water color had lost some of its intensity.

Local residents also claim that many local companies are dumping toxic waste into the waters of the canal, which also runs through an area with leather processing and textile factories located about 10 kilometers from the city center.

According to local resident Silvia, the water in the canal recently turned red, although it had changed colors before. For instance, locals had previously noticed that the water in the canal became "yellow with a sour smell," which caused a scratchy throat for the residents. Silvia also mentioned that she lives a block away from the stream and observed that the water had no odor at all — there aren't many factories in that area, but there are numerous warehouses.

Another resident, Maria Dukomls, stated that industrial enterprises in the region are discharging waste into the water, and she noted that she had seen the water in different colors before — "bluish, a bit green, pink, slightly purple, with grease on top."