Philippines – A powerful earthquake off the coast of the Southern Philippines has caused a rare geological phenomenon, uplifting the seabed in many coastal areas by approximately 2 meters, completely exposing coral reefs and seagrass beds that were previously submerged.
According to Philippine authorities, the powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake that occurred on June 8 off Mindanao island shifted a segment of the Cotabato Trench. As a result, a significant portion of the seabed was uplifted, altering the coastal landscape in the provinces of Sarangani and Davao Occidental.
Post-earthquake surveys revealed that many coastal areas have expanded by hundreds of meters. Numerous coral reefs, seagrass beds, and marine organisms were stranded due to the sudden uplift of land from sea level. Images from the scene show extended strips of exposed coral, while many fish and marine creatures perished due to habitat loss.
Scientists explain that the phenomenon of "coastal uplift" is the result of significant displacement between tectonic plates beneath the ocean floor. While this phenomenon has been observed during major earthquakes worldwide, a seabed uplift of approximately 2 meters in a short period is considered extremely rare.
Beyond the significant geological changes, the earthquake also caused severe human and property damage. According to updated figures from the Philippine disaster management agency, at least 61 people have died, dozens are missing, over 724,000 people have been affected, and approximately 54,000 homes have been damaged.
Environmental experts warn that the impact of this phenomenon could last for many years on coastal ecosystems, especially coral reefs and seagrass beds, which play a crucial role in coastal protection and biodiversity maintenance.
Sources: AFP; The Guardian; Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS); National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC); Bao Tin Tuc; ZNews.
