By Muhammad Al-Wasmi

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

MAHD AL-DAHAB — A private company caused a huge environmental pollution when they dumped the used lubricating oil from machinery in a flooded valley in Mahd Al-Dahab in Madinah province.

The workers of the company spilled used oil in the valley causing the sludge to spread over a stretch of five kilometers.

A Saudi citizen who noticed the environmental pollution alerted the authorities. He noticed the large quantity of oil spilled in the valley, which was full of rainwater following the recent rains in the area.

He said this was harming the environment, posed a threat to underground water reserves and endangered plants.

The Civil Defense, the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture formed a committee to study pollution caused by the dumping of oil in the valley.

As part of the investigation, officials at the company were summoned to give an explanation for their action. The case was later transferred to the police for more investigation.

The dumping of oil into the flooded valley eventually stopped.