THE Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) identified approximately 137.87 hectares of land potentially affected by landslides during the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck parts of southern Mindanao.
In a statement on Saturday, PhilSA said that through satellite imagery from its Sentinel-2A and Sentinel-2B satellites, the agency identified several areas across different villages in Sarangani and Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, affected by landslides. This area is equivalent to more than half the land area of Bonifacio Global City (BGC).
By comparing pre-disaster satellite images from June 1 with post-disaster images from June 14, PhilSA identified areas of vegetation loss indicative of landslides.
The analysis focused on changes in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, a measure of vegetation health.
Areas that appeared green and covered in vegetation in the pre-disaster images but now show brown or exposed soil in post-disaster images were identified as potential landslide zones.
While these findings provide critical insights, PhilSA emphasized that the maps and data are subject to ground validation for further accuracy.
PhilSA’s satellite mapping efforts support the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
By providing wide-area coverage through satellite analysis, the agency aims to assist in monitoring the situation, identifying high-risk areas and prioritizing response efforts in disaster-stricken communities.
The satellite-derived maps and associated data are critical tools for disaster response teams, helping them pinpoint areas in need of immediate attention and allocate resources more effectively.
“By making space data accessible to stakeholders, PhilSA enables informed decision-making and strengthens disaster response capabilities across the nation,” the agency stated.
