Video goes viral of Phuket beach club emptying trash bags in sand

PHUKET: A video posted on YouTube showing Surin beach club staff burying the contents of black garbage bags in the sand is not a matter of concern, says Cherng Talay Mayor Ma-ann Samran.

“I saw the video a long time ago and had my staff check it out,” Mayor Ma-ann told the Phuket Gazette today.

In the video, taken a month ago, Zazada Beach Club staff are seen digging holes, emptying the bags into them – the contents are not visible – and covering the holes with sand.

“The Zazada staff said they were just burying organic material, like pieces of wood and leaves,” said Mr Ma-ann.

“We have no plans to unearth it, it will just decay naturally in the sand. Zazada is closed now and Surin Beach is cleared and clean. That is the important thing.”

Surin Beach was the first beach cleared of all umbrellas, chairs and illegal buildings in the recent cleanup of the island’s beaches ordered by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tippayapongtada toured the beach on June 27 after the clearing and declared it beautiful again (story here).

— Chutharat Plerin