The Department of Marine and Coastal Natural Resources have ordered an investigation after a huge number of Hoi Chedi (pagoda shells) were washed ashore at Prapas beach in the southern province of Ranong on Saturday.
The unusual phenomenon occurred in the aftermath of the heavy rainstorm that lashed Ranong province, resulting in flooding in some communities and eventually sending huge amount of fresh water into the Andaman Sea.
Officials at a research station attached to Kasetsart University which is located on Prapas beach explained that the pagoda shells which usually bury themselves in the sand might have escaped the fresh water to the shore.