Philippines quake lifts sea floor two metres, exposing dead coral

A magnitude‑7.8 earthquake struck the southern Mindanao province of Sarangani in the Philippines, killing at least 61 people, injuring more than 1,400 and leaving about 40 missing. The quake destroyed or damaged roughly 64,000 homes and caused infrastructure losses estimated at around 1 billion Philippine pesos (about US$16 million).

The tremor also raised the seabed by up to two metres, shifting the coastline outward by as much as 200 metres. This uplift exposed coral reefs and sea‑grass beds, leading to widespread die‑off of fish, eels, shellfish and other marine organisms. Officials linked the uplift to the upward movement of the Cotabato trench, located about 50 km off the southern Mindanao coast. Subsequent aftershocks, including a magnitude‑5 quake on 14 June, continue to be recorded.