Disputed Island Disappears Beneath Waves

An island that both India and Bangladesh have claimed ownership of for years has vanished, Indian scientists say. Satellite photos indicate that the island, known as New Moore Island in India and South Talpatti Island in Bangladesh, has sunk beneath the rising sea. The tiny island has never had a permanent settlement, but thanks to the dispute, the Indian navy often visited, sometimes deploying security forces, reports the BBC.

“What these two countries could not achieve from years of talking has been resolved by global warming,” says one Calcutta-based professor of ocean studies. He added that water levels in the Bay of Bengal, where the island was located, have risen much faster over the past 10 years than in the 15 before that. He predicts more islands in the area will soon follow New Moore/South Talpatti’s lead. (More island stories.)