Oil spill at Bang Saen beach

It was not immediately known whether the Bang Saen spill was connected to the massive crude oil wash-up on the coast of neighbouring Rayong province last August. 

Saruwuth Rodyoo, acting mayor of Saen Suk, which oversees the beach located in Muang district, said samples of the contamination were being collected to find the source of the leak, and that a complaint was lodged with police to find out who was responsible.

Tourists and young children have been cautioned against swimming near the beach. Mobile showers have been arranged for visitors stained by the spill and treatment for rashes is available on request, he said.

Saruwuth did not say clearly whether the oil was crude, which was the same type leaking from submerged pipelines owned by PTT Global Chemical that devastated Phrao Bay on Samet island. In Rayong, a group of fishermen and others in the fishery industry met to discuss legal action to seek compensation from PTTGC.