19/06/2026
๐ต Satellite imagery released by the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) shows noticeable nighttime light loss across parts of General Santos City, Polomolok, and several areas in Sarangani Province following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck southern Mindanao on June 8, 2026.
Using data from the VIIRS sensor aboard the NOAA-20 satellite, PhilSA compared nighttime images taken before and after the earthquake. Areas that appeared significantly darker after the quake may indicate power outages, infrastructure damage, or temporary displacement of residents.
๐ Areas showing notable light loss include:
โข Parts of General Santos City, including Labangal, Apopong, San Isidro, City Heights, Siguel, and Tambler
โข Portions of Polomolok, South Cotabato
โข Coastal areas of Maasim, Alabel, Malapatan and parts of Glan, Sarangani
PhilSA emphasized that the map is a rapid assessment tool and not a direct measure of damage. Reduced nighttime illumination may be associated with power interruptions, damaged infrastructure, business disruptions, or evacuation activities.
โ ๏ธ The agency also noted that weather conditions, cloud cover, and normal variations in nighttime activity can affect satellite observations. Results should therefore be interpreted alongside official ground assessments.
๐ท Source: Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA)
๐ฐ๏ธ Satellite Data: VIIRS / NOAA-20
๐บ๏ธ Map Credits: PhilSA, NOAA, NASA LAADS DAAC, CartoDB, PSA, and NAMRIA
