Deadly Philippine Quake Raised Seabed by Up to Two Meters
The environment department said up to 2 meters of seabed rose and 200 meters of shoreline was exposed after the quake.
- A 7.8-magnitude earthquake on Monday in Mindanao, Philippines, killed at least 61 people and left 40 missing while raising the seabed by 2m.
- The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology attributed the uplift to a shifting Cotabato Trench, located 50km off southern Mindanao's coast and site of frequent seismic activity including a "swarm" of earthquakes recorded in January.
- The uplift extended shorelines by 200m, exposing coral reefs and seagrass beds that have begun dying off alongside resident organisms including reef fishes, eels, and clams, the environment department said.
- Residents reported the "coastal uplift" two days after the quake, initially concerned about fumes from decaying marine life; regional officials later released images confirming extensive coral damage and dead aquatic life.
- Search and rescue operations continue in General Santos City while officials survey the vast affected area to determine the full ecological impact of the seabed elevation and assess damage in Sarangani Province.
57 Articles
57 Articles
Disaster Risk Management (NDRRMC) reported damage to more than 57,000 homes, as well as roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure.
The devastating powerful earthquake that struck the south of the Philippines earlier last week caused the ocean's bottom to rise to two metres in certain coastal areas, the Ministry of the Environment of that country announced on Sunday, broadcasts AFP.
A powerful earthquake that struck the southern Philippines earlier this week caused the seabed to rise by up to two meters. As a result, the coastline moved 200 meters. This exposed coral reefs that are now above sea level.
Why does the sea seem to vanish after a strong earthquake?
Powerful earthquakes do not just cause tsunamis and landslides. They can also make the sea move back permanently and expose the seabed below. This phenomenon is called coastal uplift, and it usually happens when the seabed rises above sea level after the up-and-down movement of an earthquake. This is according to the definition by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). When this happens, a large portion of the sea see…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 47% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
