Indonesia says the damage sustained on famed coral reefs by a cruise ship which ran aground is worse than first feared.
An initial inspection after the March 4 incident recorded damage to 13,500 square metres of pristine coral but after a more detailed survey involving marine researchers and the insurers, it estimates 18,882 square metres (200,000 square feet) is damaged.
The Caledonian Sky ship smashed into the reefs in Raja Ampat and had to wait for high tide to be refloated.
Maritime affairs ministry spokesman Djoko Hartoyo told AFP the final cost of the damage is still being assessed and would be disclosed next month.
The ship is owned by a Swedish company, and the cruise was run by UK operator Noble Caledonia.
Noble Caledonia has apologised for the incident and admitted fault.
"The company and the insurers are committed to paying compensation," Hartoyo said.
The reefs of remote Raja Ampat have been described as the ‘bullseye of biodiversity’ and have ten times the number of hard coral species than the entire Caribbean region.
Dozens of new marine species have been discovered in the region in recent years, including the famous ‘walking shark.’
