Massive oil spill closes Thai tourist destination

The once glorious white sands of Thailand's Samet Island have been left blackened by oil following a pipeline leak. The popular destination for tourists is in the process of being cleared by some 300 workers as many fear what impact the spill will have on the holiday and fishing industries in the area.

Oil has spread over around 600 metres of Samet Island's previously pristine beach, Prao Bay. The oil spill occurred on Saturday July 27th when a PTT Global Chemical pipeline spewed around 50 tonnes of oil into the ocean just off Rayong province. The oil leaked when an oil tanker was transferring the crude to the pipeline. The crude oil then washed up on the beaches of Samet Island and a 12 inch thick oil slick was found to be covering the water just off the island's shoreline.

Whilst workers began to clean the oil from the beach, strong winds and high seas have caused the oil in water to spread rather north. This has meant that more crude oil has been deposited in a rocky bay on the island, prompting further operations to clean it up. Workers are attempting to clean up the oil as fast as possible in order to stop it spreading to any other beaches and to minimise the effects on local wildlife and tourism.

According to PTT Global Chemical, the leak was detected during the oil tanker transfer process, which was taking place around 11 miles away from the Map Ta Phut oil refinery. In a statement the company said that oil spill management experts have been flown in to aid with the clean up. Vessels from the Thai navy are also reported to be involved with the clean up efforts. Many people and organisations are calling on PTT to take full responsibility for any problems that arises as a result of the leak.

Wichit Chatphaisit, provincial governor, said: "The spill is definitely having an impact on the environment, but we have not detected any deaths of marine animals yet at this point. PTT will have to take responsibility for the damage this has caused."

This is the fourth major oil spill that the country has suffered.