Phuket Fisheries Office has explained that the darkening of the water at Patong Beach is due to a plankton bloom, and the authorities do not expect the phenomenon to affect tourism.
The announcement came after photos of black and murky water rising from the beach began circulating on social media. Seawater from the mouth of the Pak Bang channel to a stretch of beach in the Patong area turned black, prompting tourists to avoid venturing into the sea.
Sitthipol Muangsong, head of the Phuket Fisheries Bureau, led members of the press on an inspection of Patong Beach. Upon inspection, he identified the event as a plankton bloom, a natural phenomenon that occurs every year. The phenomenon causes seawater to turn a cloudy brown, red, green or black color.
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Sitthipol explained that the color corresponds to high concentrations of plankton in the water.
He added that the bloom usually occurs in summer due to changes in tidal or wind patterns and is short-lived.
The announcement came after photos of black and murky water rising from the beach began circulating on social media.
He further noted that the Phuket Fisheries Bureau will ask the Phuket Marine Biological Center to collect seawater samples on the beach for analysis to be sure.
The samples will be analyzed to determine the quality of the water, so that locals and tourists can rest easy.
