Six foreigners killed in blaze at Saudi waste treatment plant

At least six foreigner workers were killed during a fire outburst in an oil tank located in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Region on Saturday, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The Eastern Region’s civil defense spokesman told the agency that the fire broke out at 10:30 a.m. in an oil tank at the Environment Development Limited Company (EDCO) in 'Industrial Jubail 2,’ according to the agency.

Col. Ali al-Qahtani said fire broke out as workers were “conducting maintenance and welding,” resulting in the explosion that stretched across the tanks.

Al-Qahtani told Al Arabiya the fire was fully contained by firefighters, resulting in the death of six workers of different nationalities.

The company was established in 2005 to provide numerous ecological services such as training the Kingdom’s industries how to maintain a healthy and safe working environment.

“On its website, it says its "core business is to provide full environmental services with emphasis on Hazardous waste management, environmental engineering, site remediation, Waste Analysis, hazardous waste transportation, treatment and disposal, environmental monitoring equipment sales and maintenance, and other related environmental services."