‘It just dies’ – yellow-band disease ravages coral reefs

Infected sea: A marine biologist taking a photo of an outbreak of yellow-band disease on coral off Samae San island in Chonburi. — AFP

UNDERNEATH the calm turquoise waters off eastern Thailand, a rapidly spreading disease is killing vast stretches of corals, and scientists fear it may be getting worse because of climate change.

Yellow-band disease – named for the colour it turns corals before destroying them – was first spotted decades ago and has caused widespread damage to Caribbean reefs.