Probe launched into dead pigs found in river

The Ministry of Agriculture has launched an urgent investigation into the deaths of more than 3,000 pigs whose carcasses ended up in East China's Huangpu River.

The probe will also involve animal epidemic protection departments in Shanghai and Zhejiang province, said Chen Xiaohua, vice-minister of agriculture.

Officials first started receiving calls about dead pigs in the upper Songjiang section of the river last week.