At least three tonnes of oil, suspected to have originated from a ship, have been removed from Sirinan National Park and Koh Racha Yai after washing ashore. The oil spill is believed to have started in neighboring Phangnga province last Wednesday before reaching Koh Racha Yai in Phuket on Sunday.
On August 8th, 2023, local authorities in Phuket mobilized quickly to address an oil slick that washed up on the shores of Koh Racha Yai, a popular tourist destination in Muang district. The Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre’s Region 3 was alerted to the presence of oil slicks on Patok and Siam beaches, prompting immediate action.
In recent news, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpaarcha has ordered the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) to locate the culprits responsible for the oil slicks and tar balls discovered on various beaches in Phuket last Friday.