Dr Pornsri, a PhD in environmental science, delivered the news during a meeting with Phuket Vice Governor Amnuay Pinsuwan at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday (Aug 8).
The oil slick has affected 125 kilometres of coastline along the Andaman seaboard, Dr Pornsri said.
The oil slick came from the north. It was first observed washing ashore in Phang Nga on Aug 2 and reached Koh Racha Yai, just over 17km south of Phuket, last Sunday (Aug 6), she said.
A model of the oil slick determined that the slick originated some 80 to 90 nautical miles west (more likely northwest) of Phuket, Dr Pornsri said.
The affected area was huge, Dr Pornsri noted.
An inspection of the beaches in Phang Nga and Phuket’s west coast over the past two days had found many small tarballs and pools of oil still washing ashore, she explained.
“The concern is the residual oil spill in the Phang Nga Bay area, and the oil sludge that is still very much on the beaches will have an impact on marine life,” Dr Pornsri said.
“According to our predictions, the area where the oil slick has flowed may affect 4,000 rai of coral reefs in Phang Nga and Phuket. The DMCR will assign officers to inspect the area to further assess the damage,” she said.
“The information we have is consistent with the data of the Marine Department, which will proceed in its investigation and continue searching for the perpetrators in order to proceed with legal action,” Dr Pornsri added.
URGENT ACTION
Urgent action was required to continue cleaning the beaches of any oil and tarballs, Dr Pornsri said.
“The oil slick that has washed up on the beach must be urgently collected, as soon as possible,” she emphasised.
Dr Pornsri yesterday conducted inspections at Kata Beach, Karon Beach, Kalim Beach and Patong Beach.
Joining her was Dr Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong, DMCR Specialist in Research on Resources and Environment in Marine and Coastal Ecosystems.
At Patong, she was joined by Patong Mayor Chalermsak Maneesri to discuss what action Patong Municipality can take.
“According to preliminary reports, about five tonnes of oil and oil debris has been collected in Phuket in total. The most was two tonnes collected at Nai Yang Beach, with about one tonne collected at Racha Island,” she noted.
TURTLES AT RISK
The DMCR in a separate report yesterday confirmed that two young turtles found smothered with oil had been taken into care by the Sireetarn Marine Endangered Animal Rescue Centre, which is operated by the DMCR Research Center for the Upper Andaman Sea.
Sireetarn officers were notified by Sirinath National Park officials that a young olive ridley sea turtle had been found alive but stuck in a patch of oil in the Mai Khao Beach area.
The turtle’s shell was 16.5cm long and 16cm wide, and the turtle weighed just 400 grammes. The turtle was in very weak condition, and showed little response to stimuli. The turtle had been completely covered in oil, including its mouth.
The second young turtle was found on Kata Noi Beach by staff of the Katathani Phuket Beach Resort.
The turtle was a much younger green turtle with a shell 12.5cm long and 11.3cm wide, and weighed just 270g. It, too, was covered in oil, including its mouth, and was in weak condition, but in better condition than the first turtle found.
The officers wiped the oil from both turtles by using vegetable oil, and transported both young turtles to the Sireetarn Marine Endangered Animal Rescue Centre at Cape Panwa for further care and treatment.
CLEANUPS
Dr Pornsri yesterday praised efforts by local businesses and community groups for their efforts in helping to clean up the oil from Phuket’s beaches, but warned that more needed to be done.
“Oil slicks have not yet been reported in other areas and other beaches with additional contamination, but they will come,” she said.
“Relevant agencies in the area have started to continuously monitor the situation, and received much cooperation from groups of business operators in the area and even tourists,” she said.
“Please help collect oil from the affected beaches,” she added.
Any people taking part in cleanups were advised to use thick bags to collect oil debris.
People should wear medical gloves and avoid direct contact with oil debris if possible.
People who do come into contact with oil waste were advised to use vegetable oil to clean it off.
Vice Governor Amnuay said that local officials will accelerate a public relations campaign to build understanding among the public and tourists in the area, and order the relevant agencies to take action.
Mr Amnuay also called on local people to help with cleaning the beaches.
“The local community must go to the affected areas to help. Disaster officials have been sent to affected areas to help clean up the oil and provide advice in case tourists and the public come into contact with the oil,” he said.