Sand disappears at famous Thai beach

Thailand's famous Pattaya beach is losing its sand at a rate of nearly two metres a year.

The eastern Thai city, a popular resort offering beaches, watersports and nightlife, is struggling as a result of both human and natural - with its sand being eaten away at a rate of nearly two metres a year.

Thai scientists say sea currents and impacts of the city's booming development have intensified coastal erosion and the popular tourist beach could disappear in less than five years.

Thanawat Jarupongsakul, a marine and coastal erosion expert at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University explained "if we do nothing about it, the beach will disappear in the near future ... you can see that (in) some areas the beach has already gone."

The beach area has shrunk to 3.2 acres this year and its width is now is about three to five metres, compared to more than 35 metres in 1952.

Pattaya, 150 kilometres south east of Bangkok, became popular during the Vietnam War when US servicemen were used the town as a center for rest and relaxation. In recent years, Pattaya has grown as an international resort with hotels, golf courses, conference centres, waterparks, restaurants and 'go go' bars and discos.

Locals are building sand dikes and sandbags in attempts to slow the rate of erosion.

A rescue plan has been drawn up, but it could cost more than 600 million baht (US$18 million) to implement.

Thanawat says up to 220,000 cubic metres of sand will be needed immediately to increase the shore width to 40 metres. A further 150,000 cubic metres will be required every 15 years to prevent further shrinking.
Reuters