Amazingly, a Hawaiian island was washed out by super typhoon Walaka

Part of America's territory was wiped off the map due to the terrible power of Hurricane Walaka.

East Island (East Island) of the Hawaiian paradise of America has disappeared completely after super typhoon Walaka swept over here earlier this month.

According to the Guardian (England), East Island, which is a land covered with gravel and sand, lies on a coral reef, disappeared by typhoon Walaka carrying rain and strong winds.

Scientists also confirmed the disappearance of the island after comparing satellite images of the surrounding French Frigate coral reefs. This is part of a large marine reserve in the northwest of the Hawaiian Islands.

Eastern Island in Hawaii once played an important role for wildlife.(Photo: Fish & Wildlife Service).

"I uttered a swearing sentence at that moment, I couldn't believe it was gone," said Chip Fletcher, professor of Earth science at the University of Hawaii.

Mr. Fletcher and his colleagues are conducting research on East Island through videos recorded by unmanned aircraft. They took samples of sand and corals to examine the age of the island as well as assess the future prospects of the island when faced with climate change. "

"The island may have gone through 1-2 thousand years of age, and we were there in July, so it's unfortunate when it disappears at the moment," Professor Fletcher said.

East Island before Hurricane Walaka swept over.

"We want to follow the island, so I'm disappointed when it disappears, but on the other hand, we also know that islands like these face far more risks than we value. I used to think the island would last for 1-2 more decades, but it was much more fragile than my prediction. Both the surface, the middle and the bottom of the island were gone. "

East Island used to be about 800 meters long and about 120 meters wide, is the second largest island in the French Frigate Reef, located on the westernmost tip of the Hawaiian Islands. Until 1952, there was still a US Coast Guard radar station on the island.

Despite its small size, the island plays an important role for natural species, including the "monk " Hawaii seal that is threatened with extinction when only 1,400 individuals, including many children are raising small children in the East Island area. It is also a habitat for green sea turtles that are also in "red books" , and seabirds like large seagulls.

"This loss is a big blow," Fletcher commented, "What we have little doubt it can disappear so quickly."

The rapid disappearance of East Island and Hawaii is another proof of climate change.

Under normal conditions, a coral atoll is less likely to be washed away by a strong storm. But climate change has caused the ocean and atmosphere to become warmer, making the storms even more intense, while there is evidence that storms are moving further north, aimed at latitude where East Island once existed.

"It's a message that climate change is real and it's happening right now," said Randy Kosaki, official in charge of the Hawaii area of ​​the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Coral Frigate French Frigate is located in the Papahānaumokuākea National Ocean Conservation Area of ​​the United States. It has become the largest ocean sanctuary in the world after being expanded under President Obama in 2016. A 1,350-mile wide strip of coral islands and coral reefs is the environment of many lives, including corals, fish, birds and mammals, many of which are unique in Hawaii.