Categories: World

Beach in Thailand declared disaster area as oil spill blackens sand

<p>
A beach in eastern Thailand was declared a disaster area on Saturday due to a large amount of oil leaking from an undersea pipeline in the Gulf of Thailand that polluted the water and turned the sand black.</p>
<p>
Thailand mobilised its navy and other agencies to contain an oil spill after an estimated 160,000 litres leaked from a pipeline about 20 km from the beach.</p>
<p>
The leak at the pipeline owned by Star Petroleum Refining Public Company Limited started late on Tuesday, southeast of the Map Ta Phut Industrial estate, a major petrochemical complex, according to a Reuters report.</p>
<p>
Atthapol Charoenchansa, director-general of the Pollution Control Department, warned fishermen to steer clear of the area.</p>
<p>
He earlier said Koh Samet, a resort island off Rayong province popular with foreign tourists, could be impacted by Friday, but has since revised the threat level.</p>
<p>
Sophon Thongdee, Director-General of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resource, told Thai PBS the cleanup should conclude on Thursday and there was no major damage to marine life or habitat.</p>
<p>
However, experts would be dispatched to carry out further assessment, he said.</p>
<p>
SPRC in a statement said the leakage was under control and only 20,000 litres of oil remained in the water.</p>
<p>
The company also said that the leakage had not impacted refinery operations.</p>

IN Bureau

Recent Posts

Climate change, health risks escalate amid surge in PoGB deforestation

The intensifying cutting of trees for firewood in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) is not only worsening…

39 minutes ago

India’s retired judges, bureaucrats call for “immediate end” to attacks on minorities in open letter to Bangladesh

A group of retired judges, bureaucrats, Army officials and other civil society members have penned…

1 hour ago

Israel, Slovakia sign historic USD 582 million deal to boost Air Defense capabilities

Israel and Slovakia signed a 2 billion shekel (USD 582 million) agreement on Monday to…

2 hours ago

Pakistan: Protests continue in Kurram over road closures amid crisis

Protests against the prolonged road closures in Kurram persisted on Sunday, as residents held a…

3 hours ago

Sikyong Penpa Tsering successfully concludes key engagements in US, strengthening Tibetan cause

Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the political leader of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), has successfully concluded…

3 hours ago

World Uyghur Congress condemns Chinese sanctions against Uyghur, Tibetan organisations in Canada

The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) has strongly condemned the Chinese government's recent decision to impose…

3 hours ago