Desk Report
Publish: 30 Jan 2022, 08:45 pm
Photo: Collected
Authorities are rushing to
prevent an oil spill in eastern Thailand from damaging fragile corals, after
officials said on Sunday the leak that began last week was drifting towards
more coastal areas.
Minister of Natural Resources and
the Environment 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.
"If the oil reached inside
this area it could impact the beach and cause heavy damage to the shallow water
corals," Varawut said.
The oil began leaking from a
pipeline owned by Star Petroleum Refining Public Company Limited (SPRC) late on
Tuesday.
Before it was brought under
control, an estimated 50,000 litres (13,209 gallons) of oil escaped into the
ocean 20 km (12 miles) 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.
The latest satellite image from
the government's Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency
(GISTDA) showed the oil spill has spread to cover 67 sq km (25.87 sq miles)
area of the sea.
Most of the oil had formed a thin
film rather than a thick oil slick, navy spokesman Vice Admiral Pokkrong
Monthatphalin told reporters, citing aerial photographs.
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