SOME 24 small islands in Indonesia are believed to have disappeared beneath the waves because of global warming, sand quarrying, and natural disaster. The lost islands range from areas around Singkil in Aceh to Biak in Papua.

“We are verifying the data,” said Syamsul Maarif, Director-General for Sea, Coastal Areas and Small Islands, Department of Maritime Affairs & Fisheries, in a telephone conversation with Tempo in Jakarta on Friday last