Mindanao Quake Uplifts Coast, Kills Dozens and Exposes Coral Reefs

Overview

• A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck southern Mindanao on June 9 and has been linked to at least 65 deaths and multiple people still unaccounted for.
• The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology mapped roughly two meters of coastal uplift in parts of Sarangani and Davao Occidental that raised former seabed above water.
• Local residents and the regional Ministry of Environment reported shoreline advance up to about 200 meters in spots and released images showing exposed corals, dead fish and stranded marine life.
• The U.S. Geological Survey recorded a separate magnitude 6.2 quake on June 15 at about 112 km depth and officials report no confirmed new damage or casualties from that shock so far.
• Authorities warn the exposed reef flats could cause long-term harm to fisheries and coastal livelihoods and say ongoing field assessments and monitoring will refine casualty counts and ecological damage estimates.