Seaweed bloom has covered Patong beach in Phuket, prompting clean-up operations by local authorities.
The deputy mayor of Patong acknowledged that part of it comes from wastewater, and authorities are collecting it for proper disposal to reduce its impact on the beauty of this tourist beach.
Municipal officials from the Public Health and Environment Division along with 30 volunteers, have gathered to clean up and collect a mass of seaweed that has been washed ashore along the entire stretch of Patong beach.
Leaving it for an extended period could cause unpleasant odors and negatively affect the beach’s visual appeal.
Due to the significant number of tourists who visit the beach daily for sunbathing and other activities, officials are adjusting the collection process to be more efficient and capable of handling larger quantities at once.
This is being done by using nets in combination with sweeping along the shoreline. It is expected that this modification will speed up the collection process.
This year, the occurrence of seaweed bloom is earlier than usual. Typically, it appears from late January to March, but this year it started in mid-December. – 19 (TNA)
