Hawaiian island erased by powerful hurricane: The loss is a huge blow

East Island, a remote spit of gravel and sand that sat atop a coral reef, has vanished after having this misfortune to come into contact with hurricane Walaka, an intense storm that surged past Hawaii earlier this month. Scientists have confirmed the disappearance of 11 acre island after comparing satellite images of the surrounding French Frigate Shoals, part of an enormous protected marine area in the north western Hawaiian Islands.
The island played an important role for wildlife including critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal, a soecies taht numbers just 1400 individual, Green sea turtles and seabirds such as albatrosses.