‘Deathly silent’: two out of three corals in world heritage-listed Ningaloo reef have been killed, scientists confirm

One expert says she is starting to visualise the point where all we have left of corals and reefs is memories'

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Almost two out of three corals across popular tourism spots at the world heritage-listed Ningaloo reef died after an unprecedented marine heatwave hit the Western Australia region, scientists have said.

The areas in Ningaloo's northern lagoon had undergone a profound ecological simplification" with coral species that were keystones to the habitat among those killed.