INTERNATIONAL: Thailand mobilised its navy and other agencies on Wednesday ,January 26, to contain an oil spill after an estimated 160,000 litres , or 35,195 gallons have leaked from an undersea pipeline about 29 kilomteres off its industrialised eastern seaboard.

The leak at the pipeline owned by Star Petroleum Refining Public Company Limited has started late on Tuesday ,January 25, southeast of the Map Ta Phut Industrial estate, a major petrochemical complex, said the director-general of the Pollution Control Department, Atthapol Charoenchansa . He has warned fishermen to steer clear of the area but said the oil spill should be contained before it reaches the coast. He earlier said Koh Samet, a resort island off Rayong province popular with foreign tourists, could be impacted by Friday (January 28), but has since revised the threat level.

The Director-General of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resource, Sophon Thongdee, has said that the cleanup should conclude on Thursday ,January 27, and there was no major damage to marine life or habitat.

SPRC in a statement has said the leakage was under control, adding that the leakage had not impacted refinery operation. SPRC's stock has price plunged as much as 8.6 perecentin early morning trade after news of the oil spill.

^{PHOTO: AERIALS OF SHOWING OIL SPILL IN OCEAN, THAI NAVY SAILORS COLLECTING OIL SAMPLES FROM SPILL IN OCEAN, HELICOPTER FLYING OVER}