Beach in Thailand declared disaster area as oil spill blackens sand

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A beach in eastern Thailand was declared a disaster area on Saturday due to a large amount of oil leaking from an undersea pipeline in the Gulf of Thailand that polluted the water and turned the sand black.</p>
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Thailand mobilised its navy and other agencies to contain an oil spill after an estimated 160,000 litres leaked from a pipeline about 20 km from the beach.</p>
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The leak at the pipeline owned by Star Petroleum Refining Public Company Limited started late on Tuesday, southeast of the Map Ta Phut Industrial estate, a major petrochemical complex, according to a Reuters report.</p>
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Atthapol Charoenchansa, director-general of the Pollution Control Department, warned fishermen to steer clear of the area.</p>
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He earlier said Koh Samet, a resort island off Rayong province popular with foreign tourists, could be impacted by Friday, but has since revised the threat level.</p>
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Sophon Thongdee, Director-General of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resource, told Thai PBS the cleanup should conclude on Thursday and there was no major damage to marine life or habitat.</p>
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However, experts would be dispatched to carry out further assessment, he said.</p>
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SPRC in a statement said the leakage was under control and only 20,000 litres of oil remained in the water.</p>
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The company also said that the leakage had not impacted refinery operations.</p>