KUWAIT: This November 6, 1991 file photo shows then Amir of Kuwait His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (center) attending a ceremony to celebrate the extinguishing of the last burning oil well since the Iraqi Invasion eight months prior. - KUNA photo

KUWAIT: Kuwait commemorates today the 25th anniversary of putting out the last oil well set on fire during the Iraqi invaders. Iraqi troops, in 1990, set about 700 oil wells on fire before withdrawing from Kuwait in 1991, leaving behind one of the worst environmental calamities in recent memory.

The last of the burning oil wells was extinguished on November sixth during a ceremony attended by the late Amir of Kuwait His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Exceeding expectations, the job took only eight months due to the efforts of more than 10,000 experts from different countries. The Kuwaiti team managed to put out 41 oil well fires. - KUNA