A diesel fuel spill has left about 12,000 people in south-eastern West Virginia without drinking water.

The city of Lewisburg says an estimated 3,975 gallons of diesel fuel spilled into a tributary of the Greenbrier river late on Friday night when a tanker truck overturned on Route 92.

The Lewisburg public works director, Mark Carver, told media outlets the city shut down its treatment plant and intakes around 2.30 am Saturday to prevent the fuel from contaminating the water supply. The system ran out of water on Sunday afternoon.

Two tanker trucks have been set up at the West Virginia State Fair in Fairlea to distribute water.

Five schools were closed on Monday because of the lack of water, along with restaurants.

City officials said it could be several days before water service is restored.