Beach in Thailand declared disaster area after oil pipeline leak | Thailand

A beach in eastern Thailand has been declared a disaster area as oil leaking from an underwater pipeline in the Gulf of Thailand continues to wash ashore and blacken the sand.

The leak, from a pipeline owned by Star Petroleum Refining, started late on Tuesday and was brought under control a day later after spilling an estimated 50,000 litres (11,000 gallons) of oil into the ocean about 12 miles (20km) from the country’s industrialised eastern seaboard.

Some of the oil reached the shoreline at Mae Ramphueng beach in Rayong province late on Friday after spreading over 18 sq miles (47 sq km) of sea in the gulf.

The Thai navy is working with the company to contain the leak and said the main oil mass was still offshore, with only a small amount washing up on at least two spots along the seven-mile beach.

About 150 Star Petroleum Refining workers and 200 navy personnel have been deployed to…