Krabi Mangrove Hit By Oil Spill, Fishermen Say

Krabi mangrove hit by oil spill, fishermen say

Sitthichai Sikawat

The Nation

Krabi

KRABI: -- Fishermen from Krabi's Neu Khlong district yesterday alerted reporters to an oil leak that reportedly began on June 10 and severely affected the ecosystem of Ban Laem Kruad's 1,000-rai mangrove forest.

So far, no officials have inspected the 10-kilometre-long black oil slick covering coastal seawater and the muddy soil surface and mangrove trees in Tambon Khlong Khanan, said resident Lheb Chonthee, 49. He said many marine animals had died, affecting coastal fishermen and fish and shrimp farmers.

Krabi Power Plant pier head Payong Tantapakul said the plant didn't cause the oil leak, claiming it began on June 10 due to the actions of a private operator.

Following the discovery of spilled oil at the Ban Laem Kruad pier on June 10, Payong said, police and pier officials went to investigate, taking cleanup equipment with them, he said. They found an oil-transporting boat, "Ore Somsak", which was transferring tens of thousands of litres of fuel oil onto a tanker truck, as the boat had hit an underwater rock, resulting in a large leak. A source reported that police arrested the boat captain and fined him Bt100,000.

-- The Nation 2012-07-01