China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment released new underwater footage of Huangyan Dao (Islands) on Friday, showing its vibrant underwater ecosystems and diverse marine species.
Radiant as a "blue sea jewel," Huangyan Dao is China's inherent territory, serving as a vital habitat and sanctuary for diverse marine life in the South China Sea.
On the same day, the ministry also published its 2025 investigation and assessment report on the area.
The report shows that China's Huangyan Dao area in the South China Sea has maintained excellent marine environment quality.
Compiled by eight institutions, including institutes under the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the report drew on field surveys conducted in 2024 and 2025, satellite remote-sensing data and historical research, to provide a comprehensive assessment of the area's marine environmental conditions, coral reef ecosystems and seagrass habitats.
According to the report, Huangyan Dao's natural ecosystems exhibited strong diversity, stability and resilience -- serving as an important habitat and refuge for marine life in the South China Sea. It also offered valuable records for the study of global climate change and environmental evolution.
China established the Huangyan Dao national nature reserve earlier this year. It is located in the country's southernmost island city of Sansha, Hainan Province, covering an area of 3,523.67 hectares.
China’s ministry releases latest underwater footage of Huangyan Dao
Spanish health authorities on Friday identified a second monitored contact linked to the hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship MV Hondius after tracing a woman living in Catalonia who had shared a flight with a Dutch traveler died from the virus.
Spain's Center for Coordination of Health Alerts and Emergencies said the woman is asymptomatic and was initially missed during contact tracing because of a seat change on the aircraft.
According to health authorities, the woman now meets the criteria for monitored contact under a newly approved national surveillance protocol and will remain under medical observation.
This came after the suspected case of hantavirus detected in Alicante. Spanish Secretary of State for Health Javier Padilla said on Friday that the health authorities had taken relevant measures.
In addition, Padilla confirmed that all 14 Spanish passengers aboard the MV Hondius had agreed to undergo voluntary quarantine measures in order to minimize the risk of further transmission.
The Dutch-operated expedition cruise ship, currently heading toward Spain's Canary Islands, has so far been linked to three deaths.
Padilla said a team from the Spanish Health Ministry would travel to Tenerife on Saturday ahead of the ship's expected arrival on Sunday.
Passengers are expected to disembark by small boats before being transferred under strict isolation measures. Spanish citizens aboard the vessel will be transported to Madrid for quarantine observation.
The British Health Security Agency announced Friday that a suspected hantavirus case has been detected on the South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, linked to the ongoing outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship.
The vessel stopped at Tristan da Cunha between April 13 and 15.
Spain identifies second suspected hantavirus case linked to cruise ship outbreak
