Cleanup begins at oil-fouled Hua Hin beaches
Government workers and local residents began cleaning up Hua Hin beach on Wednesday after the Prachuap Khiri Khan coastline was fouled with oil, tar balls and petroleum-coated garbage. The cleanup started at 9am with employees from the Hua Hin municipality, district office and civilian volunteers.
Hua Hin mayor Nopporn Wuthikul said the hardest-hit areas were a stretch of about 10 kilometres from Khao Takiap to the Hua Hin fishing pier, and in front of the Klai Kangwon Palace.
He said participants scooped up blackened sand and oil-coated objects, disposing of them in black bags hauled away by garbage trucks.
On Wednesday morning, oil slicks in the bay were not as thick as yesterday. It was initially believed the oil had spilled from a large vessel far offshore. Authorities were investigating, he said.
Mr Nopporn said people should not go swimming at Hua Hin beach until an official notice is posted advising that water quality has returned to normal. First, the entire beach must be cleared of all pollution,he said.