Major alert: Coral bleaching in Singapore’s shallow areas rises to 40%, scientists on stand-by for impacts from oil spill

A bleached coral captured off Semakau Island in June 2024. - PHOTO: MARINE STEWARDS

SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): Coral bleaching in Singapore has worsened amid high sea-surface temperatures, with about 40 per cent of reefs in the shallow waters of the Southern Islands appearing weak and white, said marine biologists.

They are now monitoring if a June 14 oil spill – the largest experienced by the country in over a decade – will deal an additional blow to the fragile ecosystem.