News

Thailand: Oil spill clean-up continues

Thursday, August 1, 2013, 3:30 PM -

Crews say an oil slick in the Gulf of Thailand is about 70% contained and they expect the spill to be fully cleaned up by Saturday.

Last Saturday, a pipeline owned by PTT Global Chemical PCL (PTTGC) ruptured, sending about 50,000 liters of crude into the sea in the province of Rayong. 

Clean-up efforts have been going around the clock. About 500 workers were deployed Tuesday morning to replace crews that worked through the weekend.

They come from PTTGC and the Royal Thai Navy.

Rayong governor Wichit Chartpaisit said the oil slick at the Ao Phrao bay has started to decrease but winds and waves brought oil to the shore of nearby Ban Phe area and the Klaeng port.

Chairat Trairatjarasporn, president of a tourism association in Rayong, said the incident has affected tourism in the province, noting that some tourists have cancelled upcoming trips to Rayong. 

Authorities are still assessing the damages.