Thailand fights massive Oil Spill

               A massive oil spill from the leakage of a pipeline in the Gulf of Thailand has hit tourism in Thailand. The worst hit area of Ao Prao (Coconut Bay) beach in Koh Samet is surrounded by oodles of slick from the oil spill which has formed tar balls near the beaches. The pipeline belonging to oil giant PTT Global Chemical leaked about roughly 50,000 litres of crude oil off the coast of the eastern province Rayong. Thai soldiers wearing bio-hazard suits are trying to remove the oily sludge that has blackened the beaches. The pipeline operator PTT Global Chemical said that the leak had been plugged. Meanwhile, Thai naval vessels also joined the efforts to prevent the spill from reaching mainland, and affecting fisheries.
               The affected areas are about 230 km. from the Thai capital, Bangkok and include key holiday resorts and islands which is because there will be a widespread impact on tourism. Oil spills largely affect the marine ecology as well as the aquatic flora and fauna. PTT Global Chemical is the same pipeline operator whose subsidiary was involved in an enormous oil spill off north-western Australia which was dubbed as the worst offshore drilling accident in Australia.