Sludge from the most recent oil spill in the Gulf of Thailand has washed ashore in Rayong province's Mae Ramphueng beach despite authorities insisting the issue is under control.
The anti-oil spill coordination centre previously reported the sludge was floating idly some 8 kilometres from the beach and 15km from Koh Samet, and that it would not wash ashore.
However, local journalists yesterday reported seeing a "thin film of oil" on the beach.
The sludge came from the second oil spill to hit Rayong province in two weeks. The first spill began on Jan 25 and was eventually declared under control.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment earlier urged the police to investigate pipeline owner Star Petroleum Refining Public Co Ltd (SPRC) after the company was told to cease operations following the first spill.
On Thursday, the SPRC said another 5,000 litres of crude oil had leaked from the same underwater pipeline.
The coordination centre said yesterday 11 vessels were deployed to clean up the leak in the area, with two boom vessels intercepting the sludge as it approached Koh Samet's Ao Phrao area.
Officials were also surveying Mae Ramphueng beach and areas near the Mae Thap Thim shrine, Ban Peh beach and Klang pier. No oil sludge was detected in those areas as of yet, they said.
The centre said it was monitoring wind speeds and directions to predict the movement of the sludge.
Minister of Environment Varawut Silpa-archa said he has instructed the Pollution Control Department (PCD) to draft a map predicting the direction in which the sludge is moving.
Preparations were under way to prevent the spill damaging marine life and reefs at Koh Samet's Khao Laem Ya national park, he said.
He said the PCD has formed a rapid-deployment unit with booms to fight the spill, adding the unit has absorbent sheets ready for use if any of the sludge lands on a beach.
The PCD and the Royal Thail Navy were trying to determine how much dispersant chemicals would be needed for the latest spill, he said.
The Marine Department, the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand and the Department of Industrial Works have also surveyed the underseas pipeline and begun work to fix it, he said.
Mr Varawut said although the SPRC has accepted responsibility for the spills, it remains liable for criminal and civil action.
The minister earlier said he was puzzled and concerned as to why the company broke an order to suspend its operations following the first spill.