Methane smell threatens Jeddah neighbouhood

Strong bad smell pervading a neighbourhood in the Saudi western city of Jeddah from a nearby medical waste plant is threatening its residents, some of whom have been to the hospital and others can not sleep properly.

In a report from the Red Sea port on Saturday, the Saudi online Masdar Arabic language paper said it had received a letter signed by many residents of Alajwad neighbourhood and surrounding areas asking authorities to remove the plant.

The letter said some residents left the area after their children suffered from vomiting, asthma and allergy, the paper reported.

“Some of them said they had to go to hospital because of the methane gas emitted from that plant,” the paper said.

“They said this plant is also stealing sleep from their eyes and this is posing a serious threat to their health and their children…they asked authorities to take action and remove the plant from the residential area before it’s too late.”

Methane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula CH4. It is the simplest alkane, and the principal component of natural gas.

Though not toxic, methane can displace oxygen and an individual in a methane infiltrated environment can asphyxiate.