Damage is reported widely, including off the East African coast and the Chagos archipelago.

ECONOMIST: Pink coral into grey rubble

Tanzania and the Seychelles look like falling out over an area near Aldabra, and Mauritius has claimed an area round Rodrigues island that includes the Chagos archipelago.

ECONOMIST: The scramble for the seabed

In December of 2010 Great Britain announced the largest marine protected reserve in the world, 55 islands scattered remotely in the British Indian Ocean Territory, and called the Chagos Archipelago.

FORBES: Japan's Tragedy: Global Ecological Uncertainty