It's being reported the tiny offshore island of Monuafe in Tonga could be the kingdom's first island to disappear due to sea-level rising.
Matangi Tonga reports that Monuafe appears to have eroded and receded into the ocean.
The paper says it is now a submerged sand bar that appears briefly at low tide, but 25 years ago was a healthy islet that supported a diverse flora of plant life.
Monuafe was one of many tiny islands that sat in the bay of Nuku'alofa and although only the size of about half a rugby field, it supported 30 different species of plants including Pandanus and Hibiscus trees.
Illegal sand mining and cyclones are also being blamed for the swift erosion of Monuafe.
Google Satellite image marking the location of Monuafe Island in Tonga Photo: Google maps
