Jeddah Municipality is currently working with the Civil Defense and Ministry of Transport to drain and level a sewage-filled lake east of the city because it poses a threat to local neighborhoods.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the municipality’s spokesman, Muhammad Al-Buqami, said that over 150 large water tankers and heavy equipment of the Civil Defense would be used to undertake the “huge task” of draining the pool of water, described as Musk Lake.

The stinking lake has emerged in the midst of east Jeddah districts in recent times and looks like Arbaeen Lake in the city center.

The foul-smelling lake has made life miserable for people living nearby in Al-Rayah, Al-Musaed, Al-Raghamah and Quwaiza districts. They say that sewage is now seeping out of the lake into holes dug by contractors building the Haramain railway project.

Saad Al-Ghamdi, a resident of one neighborhood, said: “The noise of the digging operations has left us in a constant state of fear that the foundations of our houses will collapse. We are also fearful that when the rainy season arrives, there may be floods that cause the weak walls of the lake to burst.”

He said residents are afraid there might be a repeat of the bursting of the Umm Khair dam in January 2011 that caused widespread damage in the city.

He said it is the responsibility of the National Water Company to repair the work it undertook for the municipality. “Local residents have been demanding all responsible departments repair the damage done to the local environment. However, no department has so far taken any action,” he said.

Another resident, Saleh Al-Sahli, said he also fears that the lake would burst if there is heavy rain. “The water from the lake has already started seeping out and corroding the foundations of nearby houses. This would eventually lead to cracked walls,” he said.

In addition, he said there are now new dirty stagnant pools of water appearing in the district breeding mosquitoes that could spread deadly diseases such as dengue fever and malaria.

He said these pits could also threaten utility cables and pipelines. He urged the municipality to take action before the rainy season starts.

Director General of the Civil Defense Brig. Salem Al-Matrafi said he has written to the municipality and the transport ministry to take urgent steps to fill the lake. He has asked the contracting company building the railway to fill the pits and the lake.

“The Civil Defense is concerned with the safety of residents and is taking measures to prevent disasters. A team led by Lt. Col. Muhammad Al-Sufyani has inspected the area and taken preliminary steps to protect the residential neighborhoods. The Civil Defense administration is also monitoring the progress of the work in concert with the municipality and the Transport Ministry,” he said.