It is estimated that many hundreds of litres of used oil and diesel had been thrown into the sewage system leading to the Lunzjata sewage pumping room by an unknown person or persons which lead to the oil spill in the Lunzjata/ Xlendi valley after Friday nights blackout.

According to well-informed sources, the oil spill started early yesterday morning and police arrived at the scene at around 3pm. Trap booms were set-up to stop the oil flow further down the stream by civil protection personnel, just under the Roman/Medieval Watch Tower.Fortunately, prompt action by the police and civil protection personnel stopped the oil from finding its way further down the valley onto the small beach of Xlendi, where the swimming season has already started. This pollution may have also damaged the freshwater crab habitat in the valley, as this time of the year, is their mating season. Farmers who wanted to water their crops from the valley water, expressed their total exasperation at such wanton pollution.

The clean up operation to remove the oil from the valley was still going on till late on Sunday and police investigations are continuing.

The link below is to a detailed video of the oil spill and clean up operation: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mic9JdMnvCE

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