Pope Leo XIV prayed Sunday for victims of the powerful earthquake that struck southern Philippines last week, as the death toll rose to 61 and scientists documented dramatic changes to the region’s coastline.
Speaking after the Angelus prayer at the Vatican, the pontiff expressed solidarity with communities affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off the coast of Mindanao on June 8 and triggered tsunami warnings across several countries.
“I assure my closeness to the people of the Philippines, who were struck a few days ago by a strong earthquake,” the pope said.
“I pray for the deceased and their families, for the injured, and for all those who are suffering because of this calamity,” he added.
The latest report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) showed that the quake and its aftermath have left 61 people dead, 1,403 injured, and 40 missing as of June 14.
Most of the fatalities were recorded in Region 12, which accounted for 54 deaths, while seven were reported in Region 11.
The disaster affected about 724,000 people from 173,000 families across Mindanao. More than 10,000 displaced residents remain in 34 evacuation centers.
The earthquake also caused extensive damage to homes and public infrastructure. Government data showed that more than 54,000 houses were damaged, including nearly 10,000 that were totally destroyed. Damage to infrastructure was estimated at P1 billion.
Thirteen cities and municipalities have been placed under a state of calamity.
Authorities are also assessing the quake’s impact on coastal ecosystems after parts of the seabed were pushed above sea level.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said movement along the Cotabato Trench caused portions of the coastlines of Sarangani and Davao Occidental provinces to rise, exposing areas that had previously been underwater.
The agency said parts of the coastline were lifted by approximately two meters.
Residents first reported the phenomenon, known as coastal uplift, days after the quake when stretches of shoreline appeared farther from the water. In some areas, the coastline reportedly extended by as much as 200 meters.
Field teams from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources later confirmed that coral reefs and seagrass beds had been exposed.
Images released by the department’s regional office showed large sections of exposed coral and marine life stranded above the waterline.
Government agencies reported that PHP67.6 million in assistance had been provided to affected families as relief and recovery operations continued across the quake-hit region.
Authorities said assessments of the affected coastal ecosystems are continuing as communities across Mindanao recover from one of the country’s deadliest earthquakes in recent years.
