Rayong: Mae Ramphueng beach in this eastern province has been declared a disaster area after oil leaking from an underwater pipeline in the Gulf of Thailand washed ashore and blackened the sand.
Personnel from various agencies were stepping up efforts to remove oil sludge from the shoreline.
The leak from the pipeline owned by Star Petroleum Refining Plc (SPRC) started late on Tuesday and was brought under control a day later after spilling into the Gulf of Thailand 20 kilometres off the coast of Rayong, officials said yesterday.
A 2-km stretch of Mae Ramphueng beach in Moo 10, tambon Taphong of Muang district, was blackened by the oil slick. According to a satellite image taken at 10.53am yesterday by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, the spill covered 67 square kilometres of sea area, and a 5-km stretch of the slick closed in on the shoreline of Mae Ramphueng beach.
Rayong governor Charnna Ieamsang declared the beach a disaster area, off-limits to the public as a major clean-up continues. Shops and restaurants along the beach were ordered to close until the situation improves. Police are monitoring entrances and exits to the beach as the incident could pose health risks, Mr Charnna said.
Meanwhile, the Public Health Ministry has sent medical personnel to the area to treat people for allergies and those who may come into contact with the oil.
Athapol Charoenshunsa, director-general of the Pollution Control Department, said the oil sludge on the beach could have slipped through the booms installed at sea to prevent the oil from reaching the coast. He was also worried about another huge amount of oil sludge looming 3km off the beach and the coast of the Khao Laem Ya-Koh Samet National Park.
Strong winds and waves could wash the slick ashore even faster, he said, adding that efforts are under way to remove the sludge from the sea and the shoreline and more booms will be installed to keep the slick at bay, he said.
He also said vessels will be deployed to form a barricade to block the oil spill from reaching the coast and bio-dispersants used in the clean-up of oil spills in marine national parks which are environmentally sensitive areas and home to coral reefs and seagrass.
SPRC, the owner of the pipeline, intends to open a centre to handle complaints in relation to the spill, said Deputy Transport Minister Atirat Ratanasate, who led an inspection of the affected area in Rayong. A tripartite committee -- consisting of the company, state agencies and affected parties -- will also be set up to respond to any complaints, he said.
The Marine Department previously lodged a complaint with Map Ta Phut police against the SPRC to pave the way for any future legal action, said Mr Atirat.
It accused the company of violating Section 119 of the law on boat navigation in Thai waters by causing pollution and obstructing boat navigation, he said.
Rear Adm Arthorn Charapinyo, deputy commander of the First Naval Area command, said the navy was working with agencies to contain the oil spill with 10 ships deployed to spray dispersant.
The navy's aircraft also hovered over affected areas to observe the movement of the slick, Rear Adm Arthorn said.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said it was concerned that the oil slick may affect natural marine resources at the Koh Samet archipelago which is home to coral reef covering 1,708 rai and seagrass covering 1,885 rai.
Wanna Chanpitak, a seafood vendor on Mae Ramphueng beach, said she was shocked by the sight of the beach covered by smelly black oil sludge.
She said she was expecting tourists to visit during Chinese New Year, but the beach has now been declared off-limits, causing her to lose income.
Walailak Witthayanukroh, owner of a resort on the beach, called on authorities to speed up the cleaning effort, adding that several customers called to cancel their bookings.