Rayong: The "pink leech" phenomenon came to an abrupt end as the high tide over the weekend swept the last of the pink sea cucumbers back into the sea at Suan Son Beach, Rayong Province.
According to Thai News Agency, on Saturday morning, an extraordinary event unfolded as millions of pink sea cucumbers, also known as pink leeches, washed ashore at Suan Son Beach in Klaeng Subdistrict, Mueang District, Rayong Province. This rare occurrence drew a large number of tourists who flocked to the beach to capture the spectacle. Social media platforms were inundated with images and videos as visitors documented the event.
By yesterday morning, however, the scene at Suan Son Beach had changed. Netizens reported that the pink sea cucumbers were no longer visible on the sand. The high tide on Saturday night had washed nearly all of them back into the sea, leaving only a few behind. In response, local beachfront restaurant owners have begun cleaning efforts to prepare the beach for future visitors. The current weather at Suan Son Beach is calm, with gentle waves and clear skies.
Concerns were raised about the potential of this phenomenon being a precursor to a natural disaster. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thon Thamrongnawasawat addressed these worries in a Facebook post, clarifying that the washing ashore of sea cucumbers is not indicative of an impending earthquake or tsunami. He suggested environmental changes, possibly linked to warmer seawater, an approaching Super El Ni±o, and strong winds and waves, as likely causes. Dr. Thon emphasized that these sea cucumbers are not poisonous and are not typically consumed. He also warned of the lasting impact of El Ni±o, predicting turbulent and hot conditions in Thai seas potentially extending into the middle of next year.