Report Thai Authorities Probe Chemical Contamination Crisis in Kok River

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Picture courtesy of TNA

 

An urgent investigation is underway as fish in the Kok River, Thailand, exhibit severe skin abnormalities, marking a critical point in a chemical and arsenic contamination crisis linked to mining activities in Myanmar. The pollutants, stemming from Myanmar's Shan State, have reportedly spread to the Sai and Mekong rivers, posing significant risks to public health, local livelihoods, and regional environmental security.

 

The Thai Department of Fisheries is currently monitoring the situation closely after tests indicated alarmingly high levels of arsenic and other hazardous chemicals exceeding safety limits. These contaminants are believed to originate from mining operations reportedly controlled by ethnic armed groups in Myanmar. As a preventive measure, experts are testing fish from the rivers to avoid human consumption of contaminated seafood.

 

The environmental and economic repercussions are acute in northern Thai communities. Local fishermen face plummeting sales due to safety concerns, catalyzing a broader economic downturn. In response, authorities in Mae Yao municipality, Chiang Rai, have erected warnings against water contact and fish consumption from the Kok River, attributing this advisory to arsenic prevalence.

 

Tourism, a vital sector in the region, is severely impacted. The Ban Ruam Mit Elephant Camp, a major attraction, reports an 80% decrease in visitors. Key activities like elephant trekking and river rafting have been suspended, with elephants now dependent on expensive piped mountain water for bathing due to the river's contamination. Additionally, veterinarians have reported skin infections among mahouts and elephants exposed to the polluted water, raising alarm over potential arsenic intrusion into local water wells.

 

Calls for decisive action are echoing across political spheres. MP Rangsiman Rome has underscored the necessity of international cooperation to tackle this transboundary issue at its source in Myanmar. He criticized the Thai government’s inadequate and ambiguous response, advocating for possible legal measures to secure compensation if conditions fail to improve.

 

Recent satellite imagery, provided by the Shan Human Rights Foundation, has pinpointed possible rare earth mining operations in Shan State, just 25 kilometres from the Thai border. These images show circular ponds used for mineral extraction, suggesting a probable source of the pervasive chemical pollution.

 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has acknowledged these findings, tasking the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment with further investigation and action. This situation underscores the urgent need for cross-border environmental governance and swift measures to protect public health and regional ecosystems.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from TNA 2025-05-23