WATCH: Panic As Lebanese River Runs Red

TEL AVIV – People were panicked over the weekend when a river in eastern Lebanon suddenly turned a deep red, reportedly due to a leak from a local chocolate factory, Lebanese media reported.

Footage of the river Bardawni in the city of Zahle quickly went viral on social media, leading to an investigation by Lebanese authorities.

The cause seems to have been red dye from a chocolate factory that was dumped by the local Hzarta landfill.

Three people were arrested in connection with the contamination of the river on Monday, sources told Lebanon’s Daily Star newspaper.

The Environment Ministry said in a statement that it would “take the maximum action against anyone who caused or contributed to this pollution.”