Authorities are rushing to prevent an oil spill in eastern Thailand from damaging fragile corals, after officials said on Sunday (30 Jan) the leak that began last week was drifting towards more coastal areas.
Natural Resources and the Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said it was crucial to try to prevent the main mass of oil from reaching the shore at Ao Prao, a small bay on Koh Samet, which is a popular resort island.
Varawut said, “If the oil reached inside this area it could impact the beach and cause heavy damage to the shallow water corals.”
The oil began leaking from a pipeline owned by Star Petroleum Refining Public Company Limited (SPRC) late last Tuesday (25 Jan).
Before it was brought under control, an estimated 50,000 liters of oil escaped into the ocean 20 km from the coastline of eastern Thailand.
Mae Ramphueng Beach in Rayong province declared a disaster area after some oil came ashore there late on Friday (28 Jan).
The latest satellite image from the government’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) showed the oil spill has spread to cover a 67 sq km area of the sea.
Citing aerial photographs, Navy Spokesperson Vice Admiral Pokkrong Monthatphalin told reporters that most of the oil had formed a thin film, rather than a thick oil slick. (NNT)
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