Vast graveyard… Thousands of dead fish they have covered the surface of a lagoon that has almost disappeared in the northern state of Chihuahua, Mexico, with local officials attributing the incident to severe drought.

The fish deaths in Bustillos Lagoon, in the city of Anahuac in Chihuahua, have come during a long dry spell as temperatures have riseni above 40 degrees Celsius. Lagoon water levels are dangerously low, officials told CNN.

Some form of drought affects almost 90% of Mexico, the highest rate since 2011, according to government data. The state of Chihuahua has been hit particularly hard with most of its territory experiencing the most extreme levels of drought.

There was much less water in the lagoon for the fish to live and the rest of the water was of poor quality, according to Irma de la Pena, head of the Department of Ecology in the city of Cuauhtemoc.

“When the amount of water decreases, pollutants are more concentratedand therefore also affect the species that live here,” De la Pena explained.

Mass fish kills in the area have also occurred in previous years when the lagoon dried up, with fish being washed away. Animals, including cows and donkeys, have also died as dams run low and farmers struggle to secure every drop.

The heat and drought have become so intense that many people who rely on agriculture for a living have packed up and left the area.

“It’s a very abandoned area because since it doesn’t rain… they no longer dare to continue living here,” said Jesus Maria Palacios, a livestock farmer in Cuauhtemoc.

In the lagoon, local authorities are struggling to cover the dead fish with lime because they are rapidly decomposing under the sun could endanger public health attracting insects and spreading disease. They are asking for help from local agencies.

“What we need is support, especially since there is a health risk,” said Saul Sausameda, president of the Anahuac community.