Local authorities initiated an emergency response immediately after China Comment (Banyuetan) reported that some dead pigs were found along the Yellow River in Dalad Banner of Ordos city in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Sunday.

The banner's public security department has launched investigations into the dead pigs, according to a statement issued by the local government on Sunday evening.

The epidemic control workers from the local agriculture and animal husbandry department have collected samples of the dead pigs and carried out an epidemiological investigation.

And staff members have collected all the dead pigs for harmless treatment in accordance with relevant regulations.

According to the report from China Comment, at least 26 dead pigs were found scattered along a 30-kilometer dyke on the Yellow River and some were immersed in the river.

Comprehensive disinfection has been conducted in the area where the dead pigs were found, said the statement.

Further investigations are underway.