Gallons of oil have leaked into the sea off the coast of Lipa Noi but nothing is being done about it, witnesses said.

Photos of the oil spill have been sent by e-mail to Samui Express by concerned residents who claimed it came from an inter-island ferry plying in the area. No ferry company, however, has come forward to own up the spillage. Concerned citizens have asked local authorities to do something to minimize the damage the spill would have on the environment. Residents around Lipa Noi complained that their beach has become dirty and smelly as a result of the spill.

Some witnesses have reported seeing dead fish and other sea creatures floating in the murky water or washed ashore.

“We tried contacting government offices that we think would be concerned about this environmental disaster.  But we haven’t seen any of them send somebody to check it,” one resident said.

Since last year, there have been reports of oil leaks around the area. But the government appeared to have not done anything to address the problem, local residents said.

Since Lipa Noi is not a popular tourist destination, it doesn’t get much attention from the government and civic groups, they said.

Phanu Woramit, chief of the Tourism Authority of Thailand regional office in Suratthani, said he would personally check the supposed oil spill.

This problem, he said, should not be treated lightly as this could cause serious damage to the island’s tourism promotion efforts.

Phanu said he would make representations with concerned offices to see to it that those responsible for this environmental damage should be held accountable.