Engine oil has begun leaking from a grounded Indonesian palm oil tanker driven ashore by heavy seas in Narathiwat last month.
An Indonesian palm oil tanker, Sricadi 151, ran aground at Narathat beach in Narathiwat, amid rough seas last month. The ship, which had been reportedly hijacked in Indonesia and seized by Thai authorities off the province last month, has started leaking engine oil. (Photo by Waedao Harai)
The oil started washing up on Narathat beach on Friday.
The stern of the Sricadi 151 tanker, which is carrying 2.7 million litres of palm oil, is awash and has apparently been punctured by the coastal rocks off the beach in Muang Narathiwat district.
Attempts to salvage the ship over the past three days have been unsuccessful, hampered by strong winds and waves.
Engine oil was spreading in the seawater yesterday.
There were no officials monitoring the wreck yesterday and locals fear the vessel's palm oil tanks could be breached and leak if the ship is left unattended.
The tanker was seized by Thai authorities off Narathiwat on Nov 27 and eight crew members who reportedly hijacked it from Indonesia were arrested.
They were reported to have been selling palm oil off the Pattani and Narathiwat coastline.
Authorities had the tanker anchored about 400 metres off Narathat beach but strong winds and waves broke it loose and washed it up onto the beach, which is a popular tourist destination in Narathiwat.
Meanwhile, floods continue to wreak havoc in the deep South.
All 13 districts of Narathiwat have been declared flood disaster zones.
The floodwater in Rangae, Cho Airong, Si Sakhon, Rueso districts has continued to rise, forcing 80 schools in the areas to shut.
Troops have prepared flat-bottom boats to transport residents out of the affected areas.
In tambon Tha Thong of Yala's Raman district, the Sai Buri River burst its banks and flooded Tha Thong police station and more than 50 houses in the area.