Video from a suburb of Argentina’s capital of Buenos Aires shows a bright red waterway. The area has multiple tanneries that use chemicals to treat leather.

A stream winding through a populous area on the outskirts of Buenos Aires has turned crimson red in recent hours, sparking fears of industrial chemical dumping, images shared by residents on social media showed Friday.

A stream south of the Argentine capital turned a freakish vermilion this week, prompting concerns about pollution. Officials said it could be the result of “some type of organic dye.”