Great Barrier Reef Deaths

Australian scientists say warming oceans this year have caused the biggest die-off of corals ever recorded on Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

Warm seas around Australia's Great Barrier Reef have killed two-thirds of a 700-km (435 miles) stretch of coral in the past nine months, the worst die-off ever recorded on the World Heritage site, scientists who surveyed the reef said on Tuesday.

Australia's Barrier Reef coast was on Saturday taking a battering from a tropical cyclone which knocked out power and phones, but no deaths or major devastation had been reported.

Australian scientists say warming oceans this year have caused the biggest die-off of corals ever recorded on Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

Warm seas around Australia's Great Barrier Reef have killed two-thirds of a 700-km (435 miles) stretch of coral in the past nine months, the worst die-off ever recorded on the World Heritage site, scientists who surveyed the reef said on Tuesday.

Australia's Barrier Reef coast was on Saturday taking a battering from a tropical cyclone which knocked out power and phones, but no deaths or major devastation had been reported.