Oil slicks have been washing up on several beaches in Chonburi province. Tourists swimming in the sea around Koh Larn were found stained with the oil almost all over their bodies. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources has dispatched teams to inspect the area around Sa Beach and Thung Prong Bay. Preliminary water quality tests remain normal.
In the afternoon of 9 August 2026, reporters received reports that groups of beach umbrella operators and ferry service providers took photos of strange substances floating in the sea resembling engine oil. These were washed ashore continuously along Tien Beach and Saem Saen Beach on Koh Larn, Moo 7, Naklua Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province, over a distance exceeding one kilometer.
Photos show that the oil slick resembles large film-like sheets of engine oil floating ashore, leaving the beach covered with small lumps of oil stretching along the western side of Koh Larn for over one kilometer.
It was also reported that groups of tourists swimming in the sea had their bodies heavily stained with the engine oil upon exiting the water, prompting them to urgently wash off. However, there have been no reports of tourists suffering adverse effects or severe allergic reactions to the oil.
Reporters contacted Poramet Ngampichet, Mayor of Pattaya City. He revealed that officials from the Pattaya City Clerk’s office are currently investigating the facts, expecting to conclude what the oil slick is and its origin.
Meanwhile, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), through the Eastern Gulf Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center, received reports from the Marine National Security Operations Center Region 1 about tar lumps found at Sa Beach and Thung Prong Beach, as well as oil slicks near Thung Prong Pier, Sattahip District, Chonburi Province, in the afternoon of 8 August 2026.
Officials inspected the reported sites and nearby areas, interviewing local navy personnel. It was confirmed that on the afternoon of 8 August 2026, tar lumps and oily film residues were found, though the source remains unknown. Preliminary surveys found tar lumps scattered over about 350 meters at Sa Beach and approximately 100 meters at Thung Prong Bay.
Initial environmental assessments found that the overall seawater condition remains normal, with no oil film on the water surface and no foul odor. General water quality measurements showed pH values between 7.90 and 8.08, temperatures from 30.2 to 30.7 degrees Celsius, salinity between 28 and 30 parts per thousand, and dissolved oxygen levels from 6.0 to 6.7 milligrams per liter, all within standard seawater quality thresholds, notably above the minimum dissolved oxygen standard of 4 milligrams per liter.
Additionally, officials collected seawater samples to analyze for total petroleum hydrocarbon contamination. Results will be reported later. Monitoring and inspections continue to assess potential impacts on marine and coastal resources.
The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources advises the public to avoid direct contact with oil slicks and tar lumps found on beaches, as they may cause skin irritation. If more oil slicks or tar lumps are spotted, people are urged to notify relevant authorities for proper inspection and response.
Information from FacebookDepartment of Marine and Coastal Resources