Oil spill from cargo ship washes up on Thai tourist islands
The Straits Times
Thailand suffered 130 oil spills affecting more than 23 provinces between 2017 and 2021. Read more at straitstimes.com.
BANGKOK – An oil spill from a capsized cargo ship in the Indian Ocean is washing ashore on the pristine beaches of Thailand’s most famous resort island, a lawmaker told AFP on Feb 27.
The Panama-flagged Sealloyd Arc sank off Phuket on Feb 7 while sailing for Chattogram in Bangladesh, Thai authorities said, spilling around 1,700 litres of oil.
The coagulated residue has begun washing up on the island’s Ya Nui Beach, as well as a smattering of smaller islands in Phuket province, local lawmaker Chalermpong Saengdee told AFP.
The oil has tainted Koh Hey’s Banana Beach – a popular destination for island-hopping tourists seeking turquoise clear waters – and is expected to keep spreading, he said.
“It’s very worrying because the incident happened two weeks ago, but the situation is not improving and it poses a threat to marine life and coastal reefs,” he said.
“We are also concerned it could affect Thailand’s tourism and economy.”
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