Cebu earthquake caused coastal subsidence in San Remigio town —PHIVOLCS

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS-DOST) on Wednesday said a coastal subsidence has been observed in Barangay Hagnaya, San Remigio, Cebu after the magnitude 6.9 earthquake on September 30.

“Coastal subsidence raised the sea level in Barangay Hagnaya, causing several buildings and infrastructure to be partly submerged by seawater,” PHIVOLCS said in an update on Facebook.

Coastal uplift and subsidence refer to the vertical deformation of the coast in response to the upward and downward movement of the crust along a fault or subduction zone, according to PHIVOLCS.

Subsidence may lead to narrowed coastlines, landward shift of high tide lines, drowned mangroves, and terrestrial plants, PHIVOLCS added.

The agency shared photos showing the high tide level that advanced landwards in the area.

Also, the northeastern portion of the Hagnaya Port and the ground of a building vicinity subsided. They became inundated by seawater during high tide.

The number of fatalities due to the earthquake caused by the movement of the Bogo Bay Fault remained 72, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Wednesday.

A total of 62,531 houses were damaged—57,677 partially and 4,854 totally.—LDF, GMA Integrated News