Civil Defense Department in Madinah Province said smoke and odor emissions from inside the King Fahad project in Al Madinah and some surrounding neighborhoods are caused by buried waste.

Residents were worried the emissions could be a prelude to volcanic activity.

In a statement issued Friday, the department said it addressed the Saudi Geological Survey, to determine the cause of these emissions.

Civil Defense Capt. Abdulrahman Al-Suhaimi said relevant departments and the intervention team in the Civil Defense inspected these sites, and measured the percentage and type of these gases and emissions.

“These emissions were caused by waste residue of buried plastic and wood, and it doesn’t pose any danger,” he said. “We contacted the Saudi Geological Survey to make sure the area is stable, who assured us there was nothing to worry about.”

The Civil Defense received earlier notifications about smoke and odor emission from the ground. Residents panicked and were worried about the source of these emissions, which prompted the department to intervene by sending its patrols to the designated area, to monitor any volcanic activities.