Volunteers are busy this week cleaning up an oil spill that washed up on beaches in southern Thailand.

The black goo emerged on the idyllic coastline stretching from Phuket to Phang Nga in the south of the country on August 5. It is believed to have originated from a tanker that was anchored off the coast of Phuket.

Officials said the oil pollution has forced the closure of several beaches, including Patong Beach, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region.

They warned that the stunning coral reefs - popular with divers from around the world - were at risk. Marine animals and local fisherman are also affected.

Prarop Plaengngan, the chief of Khao Lampi–Hat Thai Mueang National Park said today that a fresh wave of oil stains was affecting Hat Thai Mueang in Phang Nga province.

Officials said a layer of greasy black oil, resembling asphalt, that was beginning to solidify, with some portions broken into small crusts.

After conducting inspections across 13 locations, they observed oil spill patches ranging from three centimetres to 40 centimetres in size, averaging around five patches per square meter.

They estimated that there were more 65,000 oil spill patches across the Hat Thai Mueang beach, some 10 miles long.

The government officer Prarop Plaengngan said those responsible for the spill had not been found.

Prarob urged all sectors to come together in a voluntary effort to clean the beach until the oil stains were fully removed.