VOA双语新闻 Tsunami Damage to Thai Coral Reefs（在线收听）

Tens of thousands of tourists from around the world visit Thailand's famous dive sites each year. But marine experts say the killer tsunami two weeks ago has temporarily damaged some of the area's picture perfect coral reefs.

每年都有好几万名来自世界各地的游客到泰国的那些潜水景点下海畅游。但是海洋生物学家说，两个星期前的残暴海啸已经使泰国一些美丽的珊瑚礁暂时受损。

Scuba divers have been scouring the depths of the Andaman Sea, in some of Thailand's favorite dive spots. They are clearing away debris littering the seabed - all carried by the killer tsunami two weeks ago.

过去，潜水员一直在泰国的一些潜水景点观赏和探索安达曼海的海底。如今，潜水员的工作是清除两个星期前被猛烈的海啸卷入海底的废墟杂物。

Charoen Nitithamyong, a marine biologist at Thailand's Chulalongkorn University, explains how debris - such as furniture and vehicles - dragged off land by the giant waves caused the damage.

查隆·尼提他姆扬是泰国国立朱拉隆功大学的海洋生物学家，他解释了家具和汽车等物体被巨浪卷入海中之后是如何对海洋生物造成损害的。

"Coral is an animal but they have algae living inside the coral and those algae need the light to photosynthesize," he explained. "So when the corals are covered by these things the coral couldn't survive."

他说，“珊瑚是动物，但是珊瑚里面有海藻生存。那些海藻需要光线来进行光合作用，现在杂物把珊瑚压住了，珊瑚内的生物就生存不下去了。”

The Thai government says its initial assessment shows overall about five percent of coral reefs have been harmed. The damage is most extensive around South Patong Beach - with 20 percent devastation - and Koh Pai and Rana Bay off Phi Phi Island, which lost almost half the reef.

泰国政府说，初步估计大概有5%的珊瑚礁受到了损害，受损最严重的包括南帕东海滩一带海域与皮皮岛外的科帕依和拉纳湾。 南帕东海滩一带的珊瑚有20%严重受损，而科帕依和拉纳湾的珊瑚礁有一半都毁掉了。

Ukkrit Satatoomin, of the Phuket Marine Biological Center, says the situation is not that bad given the catastrophe.

普吉海洋生物中心的乌克里特·萨他图民说，考虑到这场海啸灾难的严重性，珊瑚受到损害的情况应该说还不算太严重。

"I think the effect of the tsunami to coral is very minor. The damage is restricted only to specific sites in Phuket," he said. "But the major reef areas are still in good condition, some places have been untouched by the tsunami."

他说，“我想海啸对珊瑚的影响很小，对珊瑚的损害只局限于普吉的几个具体地点。大的珊瑚礁海域情况仍然良好，一些地方根本就没有受到海啸影响。”

The United Nations has sent some equipment to help divers clean up the Andaman Sea. Mr. Ukkrit is optimistic.

联合国已经运送了一些设备帮助潜水员清理安达曼海，乌克里特对此表示乐观。

"Coral can heal itself. Even the coral that get damaged like breaking off or even turned over, some parts of it is still alive. I'm sure within three or five years that we can see the coral in good condition again," he said.

他说，“珊瑚能够自我愈合。即便珊瑚受损，比如断裂甚至被翻倒，它的某些部份还是能存活。我敢肯定，三、五年内珊瑚的情况又会变得良好了。”

Elsewhere in Asia, Indian marine experts are also examining marine life off the coast of Kerala, which was also hit by the tsunami. It is feared that the killer waves may have killed or displaced rare sea turtles in the Indian Ocean.

在亚洲其他地区，印度的专家也在考察受到海啸袭击的克拉拉沿岸的海洋生物情况。人们担心，残暴的海啸可能导致印度洋稀有海龟的死亡或流失。