Key facts
- A 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Mindanao killed at least 61 people.
- The quake caused the seabed to rise by up to two meters.
- Coastal uplift extended shorelines by up to 200 meters in some areas.
- The geological phenomenon harmed marine life and exposed coral.
- The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology attributed the uplift to a shift in the Cotabato Trench.
A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck southern Mindanao island in the Philippines this week has resulted in at least 61 fatalities and left 40 people missing. The tremor caused significant geological changes, raising the seabed by as much as two meters and extending shorelines by up to 200 meters in certain locations. This phenomenon, known as coastal uplift, has exposed coral reefs and negatively impacted marine life. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology attributed the uplift to a shift in the Cotabato Trench, which is an area prone to seismic activity.