An oil spill in the Gulf of Thailand risks affecting a tourist industry already damaged by the Covid. Last Tuesday, January 25, a leak in an underwater oil pipeline caused tens of thousands of liters of oil to spill into the sea.
Satellite images and photos published on the networks show oil slicks over an area of nearly 50 square kilometers and marine life affected by pollution.
A sea turtle floating on the surface of the water, belly turned towards the sky… The usually turquoise sea water stained by fuel oil: the oil spill that arrives on the beaches of the province of Rayong has the local tourism industry fearing the worst.
“ We have already lost many customers due to Covid-19, the fuel slick risks being the last nail in the coffin of our business laments the manager of a holiday village on one of the oil-polluted beaches.
The Thai navy and scientists are mobilized to contain the oil spill, caused by a leak in an undersea oil pipeline belonging to Star Petroleum Refining Public Company Limited (SPRC). At least 60 tons of fuel escaped – about twenty kilometers from the coast.
The wind is likely to push the slick in the coming days towards the fragile corals of a natural park in Koh Samet – a neighboring island popular with locals from Bangkok and foreign tourists.