A powerful earthquake that struck southern Mindanao island in the Philippines has had a devastating impact on the local ecosystem. The 7.8-magnitude quake raised the seabed by as much as 2 metres, exposing coral and harming marine life, according to the country's environment department.
The earthquake, which occurred on Monday, has claimed the lives of at least 61 people, with 40 still missing, according to updated tolls from the disaster agency. Residents first reported the geological phenomenon known as 'coastal uplift' two days after the quake, which extended the shoreline by as much as 200 metres in some places.
A team dispatched to the area has found that long stretches of shoreline, coral reef, and seagrass beds have been exposed, with dead fish and other aquatic life lying on top. The exposed corals and seagrass beds are reported to have begun dying off alongside their resident organisms, including reef fishes, eels, clams, and shells.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has attributed the uplift to a shifting of the Cotabato trench, which lies as close as 50km off the coast of southern Mindanao. The trench is the site of frequent seismic activity, including a swarm of thousands of mostly small earthquakes recorded in January.