Sewage truck driver arrested over foul odor in Rishon LeZion

A sewage truck driver was arrested on suspicion of dumping oil or fuel into the sewage system in the Ramat Eliyahu neighborhood, causing a strong odor that spread across the city for about a day and a half.

A sewage truck driver was arrested today (Wednesday) on suspicion of causing the pungent smell that disturbed residents of Rishon LeZion for a day and a half. According to the suspicion, the driver poured oil or fuel into the municipal sewage system in the Ramat Eliyahu area. The driver was recorded on cameras arriving at a side path, pouring the substance, and then leaving. Mayor Raz Kinstlich announced last night that the source of the stench had been located, calling the incident a "severe sanitary hazard." This morning, the municipality filed a police complaint. The search began two days ago following resident reports of a strong gas-like smell. Firefighters scoured the streets but did not locate hazardous materials. Two female residents were evacuated to Shamir-Assaf Harofeh Hospital due to shortness of breath. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and the municipality will carry out special flushing operations in the coming days.