SURAT THANI - An oil slick about one kilometre long and 50 metres wide was spotted along the coastline of the popular Koh Samui on Wednesday.
Photos by Supapong Chaolan
Koh Samui district chief Prasert Jitmoong said residents of the beachside Ban Taling Ngarm community alerted him after they discovered the large fuel oil patch washing ashore.
Initial investigation indicated the slick was diesel oil. Officials from the provincial energy office collected samples of the dirty slick from the sea for further inspection, Mr Prasert said.
Mr Prasert speculated that an owner or owners of passenger boats or trawlers operating in the area may have secretly changed motor oil and dumped the old lubricant into the sea.
He expected it would take at least four days to clean up the slick.
In 2010, an oil slick about 400 metres long was found in the sea off a nearby beach.
Mr Prasert said an investigation was underway to find the culprit and he had instructed authorities to warn operators of tourist and fishing boats not to release used oil into the sea, or they would face maximum penalties.
