The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) is using satellite data to track the impact of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck southern Mindanao on June 8, 2026, including damaged structures, coastal changes, and signs of recovery.
PhilSA produced maps showing areas in General Santos City where buildings, structures, or land surfaces may have changed after the earthquake. The maps were created using change detection analysis from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images captured by Sentinel-1C and Sentinel-1D satellites of the European Space Agency (ESA).
Using SAR data, which can capture changes on the ground even through clouds and at night, PhilSA identified areas with possible damage. The results were combined with very high resolution (VHR) satellite images to provide a clearer view of specific buildings that may have sustained structural damage.
The agency said the maps show likely damaged buildings in red, but the results still require ground validation to confirm the actual condition of affected areas.
PhilSA also monitored changes along the coast of Sarangani following the earthquake. Satellite images showed shoreline shifts in Barangays Burias and Pangyan, which may have been caused by coastal uplift, or the upward movement of land after an earthquake.
The shoreline changes were identified by comparing satellite images taken before and after the earthquake using visual analysis and the Automated Water Extraction Index (AWEI). The analysis used Sentinel-2C satellite imagery captured on May 10 and June 9, 2026.
Aside from physical changes, PhilSA is also tracking nighttime lights as an indicator of recovery. A sudden drop in nighttime lights can point to power outages, infrastructure damage, or evacuation, while the return of lights may show areas where communities are beginning to recover.
PhilSA said its satellite data analysis supports the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) by providing wider coverage of affected areas, helping agencies identify where assistance and response efforts may be needed.
By making space-based data available to government agencies and other stakeholders, PhilSA aims to support faster decision-making during disasters.
PhilSA said it will continue monitoring satellite data as the situation requires.