Oil spill in Thailand’s sea reaches tourist island
About 50 tons of crude oil that spilled into the sea off Rayong province Saturday have now trashed the shore of Prao Bay on Samet Island.
An aerial view shows the crude oil after it washed ashore at a beach, right in front of Ko Samet Island.
BANGKOK — An oil spill that leaked from a pipeline has reached a
popular tourist island in Thailand’s eastern sea despite continuous
attempts to clean it up over the weekend, officials said Monday.
About 50 tons of crude oil spilled into the sea off Rayong province Saturday morning after a leak sprung in a pipeline operated by PTT Global Chemical Plc, a subsidiary of state-owned oil and gas company PTT Plc.
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Streaks of crude oil about 300 meters (984 feet) wide have marred the shore of Prao Bay on Samet Island, one of the most popular beach destinations among Thai and foreign tourists in the Gulf of Thailand, Rayong’s deputy provincial governor Supeepat Chongpanish said on Monday.
He said authorities have closed down the bay as 300 workers are working
to remove the oil from the white beach and from the waters. Tourists
have been warned against going near the area.
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“The top priorities right now are to get rid of the oil on the sand and
the seawaters, and to make sure the spill doesn’t spread to other
shores,” Supeepat said. “This is a very beautiful, white, sandy beach,
so we want to make the spill go away as soon as possible.”
The nearby area has been declared a disaster zone by provincial authorities, and those affected by the spill will receive immediate assistance.
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The company said it detected the leak when the crude oil from a tanker moored offshore was being transferred to the pipeline, 20 kilometers (11 miles) away from delivery at the refinery in Map Ta Phut, one of the largest industrial estates in Southeast Asia.
The company said in a statement Sunday that it had flown in an oil
spill management experts and a plane from Singapore to get rid of the
crude oil. The Thai Navy vessels also joined the cleanup efforts.
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About 50 tons of crude oil spilled into the sea off Rayong province Saturday morning after a leak sprung in a pipeline operated by PTT Global Chemical Plc, a subsidiary of state-owned oil and gas company PTT Plc.
In this photo taken Saturday, July 27, 2013, a cleaning vessel clears the oil after about 50 tons of crude oil leaked rom a pipe into the sea off Rayong province, eastern Thailand.
Streaks of crude oil about 300 meters (984 feet) wide have marred the shore of Prao Bay on Samet Island, one of the most popular beach destinations among Thai and foreign tourists in the Gulf of Thailand, Rayong’s deputy provincial governor Supeepat Chongpanish said on Monday.
ATHIT PERAWONGMETHA/REUTERS
Thai soldiers take part in a clean-up operation at Ao Prao Beach.
ATHIT PERAWONGMETHA/REUTERS
Thai soldiers in white biohazard suits pour oil into a bag during the clean-up operation at Ao Prao Beach.
The nearby area has been declared a disaster zone by provincial authorities, and those affected by the spill will receive immediate assistance.
ATHIT PERAWONGMETHA/REUTERS
A Thai soldiers shows his glove covered with oil slick at Ao Prao Beach.
The company said it detected the leak when the crude oil from a tanker moored offshore was being transferred to the pipeline, 20 kilometers (11 miles) away from delivery at the refinery in Map Ta Phut, one of the largest industrial estates in Southeast Asia.
ATHIT PERAWONGMETHA/REUTERS
Soldiers take part in a clean-up operation at Ao Prao Beach on Koh Samet, Rayong July 29, 2013.
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