Unprecedented bleaching drains life from Australian reef

AN "unprecedented" mass bleaching event has been recorded off Australia's western coast, scientists said on Wednesday, turning huge chunks of a celebrated reef system a sickly dull white.

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A months-long marine heat-wave had "cooked" the sprawling Ningaloo Reef, ocean scientist Kate Quigley said, part of a world heritage-listed marine park renowned for vibrant corals, migrating whale sharks.

Although environment officials were still verifying the scale of damage, data collected by Quigley and a team of scientists found it was on track to be the reef's worst mass-bleaching event in years.