On Koh Samui island, several beaches have been littered with waste following the recent rains. A video posted on Facebook shows the scale of the phenomenon on one of them and has sparked numerous reactions.
A video shared on Facebook by Watchara Kongnun shows a beach on Koh Samui literally covered in waste. Plastic bottles, bags, various objects and all sorts of debris pile up on the sand of the public beach located behind Tiprat school. Near some hotels, as well as in Bo Phut and other areas of the island.
According to residents' comments, this phenomenon is not new but the scale is exceptional this year. The heavy rains and floods have washed out the waterways and canals, carrying tonnes of waste out to sea. The currents and wind then brought it back to the island's shores. The video's author estimates the quantity at more than ten tonnes in places.
Numerous locals have commented on the post. Many point to human responsibility:
“It’s entirely man-made. The waste comes from the floods and has been accumulating for years.”
The Koh Samui municipality has already visited the site to assess the situation. Several internet users are calling for a collective mobilisation for the clean-up, while others are already offering to come and help with bags and nets.
This type of recurring pollution during the rainy season highlights the urgency of better waste management upstream, both on the island and on the mainland.
Source : Facebook – Watchara Kongnun