Coral reef 'unharmed' by oil slick

Coral reef 'unharmed' by oil slick

Coral reef in the sea off Ao Phrao on Koh Samet has not been harmed by the oil slick, according to the Eastern Marine Fisheries Research and Development Centre.

Centre director Bumrungsak Chatananwet said two scuba divers had been sent on Tuesday to inspect the coral reef lying about seven metres below the surface and about 100 metres from Ao Phrao beach on Samet island, after PTT Global Chemical Plc (PTTGC), Thailand's largest petrochemical producer, admitted that about 50,000 litres of crude oil leaked from an offshore pipeline feeding a refinery in the Map Ta Phut industrial estate, in Rayong, on Saturday.

Part of the slick polluted Ao Phrao bay, a popular tourist destination on the west of the island, and washed up on the sandy beach. The largest part of the slick is still in the area and threatens  beaches on the mainland.

"The oil slick has not damaged the coral reef. As for marine animals, the divers found only sea urchins," Mr Bumrungsak said opn Wednesday.

He said the centre will later examine whether the area remains habitable for marine life.

Anond Snidvongs na Ayutthaya, director of the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda), said the thin crude oil film  started to spread to other areas on Tuesday morning.

Most of the oil spill is located between Ao Noina and the north of Samet island.

"The crude oil film on the water surface might not be seen with our naked eyes but satellite photos can show it," Mr Anond said. "It might not have significant impact in the short run but in the long run it can harm the ecosystem and affect the food chain."

He said the film could spread to other provinces in the future if it is not contained.

A recent satellite photo showed a large amount of the oil slick had been removed. Clean-up agencies needed to contain the oil rather than using chemicals to dissolve it, Mr Anond said.

A satellite photo of the oil slick in the sea of the eastern province of Rayong as of 6.09am Wednesday. (Gistda photo)

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