Officials said the sewage poured into the Firth of Forth from Edinburgh's Seafield treatment plant at the rate of 265 gallons per second after a pump at the plant failed, the Scotsman reported.

Authorities urged people to stay out of the polluted water, although the newspaper reported that some people who apparently didn't see warning signs were letting children and pets play in the sea.

Officials launched an investigation into the spill, which began Friday night.

"It is ... essential there is an immediate investigation into the mechanical failure that has apparently caused this spillage and what action needs to be taken to ensure that such a failure does not occur again," First Minister Jack McConnell said, the Scotsman reported.