Thailand:
An island in southern Thailand was closed on Thursday after extensive coral bleaching was discovered, the national parks office said.
Bleaching, which occurs when algae living in corals are expelled, is usually caused by higher-than-normal ocean temperatures and increased ultraviolet radiation.
Corals can recover from bleaching over time, once temperatures drop and ocean conditions return to normal.
The closure comes after a deadly heat wave sent temperatures soaring in Thailand and Asia in recent weeks.
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) said Pling Island and the coral reefs surrounding Phuket's Sirinart National Park would be temporarily closed due to extensive coral bleaching caused by rising seawater temperatures.
The department also oversees national parks on Koh Chang, Koh Samet, Chumphon, Koh Surin, Phang Nga Bay, Phi Phi Islands and Lanta.
The news comes after the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned last month that the world is currently experiencing its second major coral bleaching event in a decade.
Reef systems from Australia to Florida are struggling after months of record-breaking ocean heat, NOAA said.
Park closures occur periodically in Thailand, which was visited by 28 million tourists in 2023, many of whom came to enjoy the country's pristine beaches.
In 2018, Maya Bay, the Thai island made famous by the Hollywood film 'The Beach', was closed for more than four months to allow coral and marine life to recover after being depleted by hordes of tourists.
Scientists have long warned that human-induced climate change will cause more frequent, longer and more intense heat waves.
While the El Nino phenomenon is helping to cause this year's exceptionally warm weather, Asia is also warming faster than the global average, according to the UN World Meteorological Organization.
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