Australia reef sees 3rd coral bleaching in 5 years

NEW DELHI: Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has suffered “very widespread” damage after rising sea temperatures caused the third mass coral bleaching events in five years, authorities said Thursday.


Its northern reaches suffered an unprecedented two successive years of severe bleaching in 2016 and 2017. Some previously untouched areas had now suffered “moderate or severe bleaching”, said the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, which is conducting an aerial survey of the giant organism.