ABHA: An oil spill from a tanker on a road in Khamis Mushayt, located on the east of Abha, in Asir province, triggered a huge operation involving five government agencies recently.

The entire area was cordoned off after kerosene started leaking from the 32-ton capacity tanker, Brigadier Mohammad Al-Asimi, spokesman of Asir Civil Defence, was quoted as saying by local media on Tuesday.

Teams from the Saudi Red Crescent, public security, traffic police, emergency department and Saudi Electricity Company arrived at the spot soon after receiving report about the oil spill.

The kerosene started leaking from the tanker after it rammed the concrete road pavement in the Noman neighborhood of Khamis Mushayt, said Al-Asimi.

"A puncture was caused in the tanker, following which the fuel started spilling.

A Civil Defense team slowly moved the vehicle to an open area, away from residents, and cordoned off the area with the help of fire teams as a precaution," he said.

Emergency teams joined in the rescue operation with the necessary equipment to plug the leakage, said Al-Asimi.