Con Dao National Park announced on May 30 that coral had been bleached and died after a check conducted in some areas starting on May 28.
"The coral bleaching has happened in waters off the Con Dao Islands since April due to hot weather," the park said, adding that coral grows well in temperatures of between 24-30 degrees Centigrade. However, the local seawater has temperatures of over 32 degrees Centigrades due to the El Nino phenomenon, resulting in coral bleaching.
"It will be very difficult for the coral to recover and develop if the high temperatures continue," the park noted.
The centre also warned that the El Nino phenomenon would continue with prolonged hot weather, worsening the situation and killing the bleached coral reefs.
In 1998, 2010, and 2016, the sea off the Con Dao Islands also saw coral bleaching due to the El Nino phenomenon, which caused coral deaths in some areas. Con Dao National Park managed to revive the coral later.
