Oil slick reaches Thailand’s southeast coastline

Bangkok, Jan 29 (EFE).- Soldiers and government officials on Saturday were being deployed to the southeast coast of Thailand after a crude oil spill reached the shore.

The leak from an underwater pipeline belonging to the Chevron-owned Star Petroleum Refining company caused a 45-square kilometer oil slick, part of which has ended up on Mae Ramphueng beach in Rayong province, a popular local tourist destination, the Bangkok Post reported.

Star Petroleum Refining said they have been able to control the spill, which occurred on Tuesday at a marine buoy 20 kilometers off the coast of Rayong, reducing it from an initial estimate of between 20 and 50 tons to about five.

Several planes were taking part in the cleaning operations, including a C-130 from a Malaysian company, as well as the Thai Navy, the Department of Marine Resources and other government agencies.

The director of the Department of Disease Control, Opas Karnkawinpong, denied on Wednesday that the spill would contaminate local seafood.

In 2013, Rayong’s Koh Samet was affected by a 50 ton oil spill, caused by a pipeline of the state-owned company PTT. EFE

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