By Abdul Rahman Al-Ali
Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Two men died of asphyxiation inside a sewage tank in south Jeddah on Friday. A rescue team comprised of divers and a forensic doctor from Jeddah Civil Defense rushed to the scene of the accident in Al-Khomra District, said Lt. Col. Saeed Sarhan, Civil Defense spokesman for Makkah region.

An unidentified African man was found outside the sewage tank and transported to King Abdulaziz Hospital in a state of unconsciousness. However, he died later in the hospital due to the excessive amount of poisonous gas inhaled. The rescue team also found the body of a 42-year-old Afghan man inside the sewage tank.

According to preliminary information received, the Afghan man climbed into the sewage tank to try and rescue the Nigerian man but died before he could come out.

“Investigations are still going on to find out the circumstances surrounding the accident. We don’t know whether the two men were cleaners or just passersby,” Sarhan said.