The head of Cherng Talay’s district office told reporters that high waves are the norm on Phuket’s west coast during the annual monsoon. Ma-ann Samran said the volunteers cleared the beaches of items such as timber, logs, takeaway food containers, plastic bags and cigarette ends.
Mr Samran praised the civic-mindedness of lifeguards and hospitality workers who took part in the clean-up despite the fact it was not a part of their job remits. A lifeguard at Surin said he and his colleagues were more than happy to join the exercise as it saw the beach returned to its usual pristine state.
Over in Patong, municipality employee Sasinut Wongsrinark said workers and volunteers pick up debris on the first Friday of each month. She noted that this month’s operation had been timed just right as recent heavy seas had deposited large amounts of jetsam on the beach.
The monsoon season typically stretches from May to September on Phuket and other popular holiday hotspots on Thailand’s Andaman shoreline. This time of the year is the low tourist season and there are lots of bargains to be had on accommodation. 12GO Asia can provide you with a bus, train or ferry ticket to get here.
Volunteers clean up Phuket west coast beaches
News in Asia
Lifeguards and hotel employees joined a cleanup operation last Friday at Phuket’s main beaches. The clean up saw the volunteer force pick up all the flotsam washed up by monsoon tidal swells on the Thai island’s Patong, Kalim and Surin beaches.