Google Earth shows scarring of Scarborough Shoal

The environmental degradation of coral reefs off Scarborough Shoal while under Chinese control is quite visible even when observed from above, maritime expert Jay Batongbacal has shown in a Facebook post.

According to Bam Alegre's report on "24 Oras", a Google Earth photo taken in May 2009 and that Batongbacal posted showed that the reefs were undisturbed when Filipino fishermen could freely fish in the area.

The next Google Earth photo that he shared was taken in April 2014, or two yeats after China took control of Scarborough Shoal. It already showed evidence of scarring by propellers supposedly of Chinese ships.

The third picture was taken in 2016 after the Philippines won the favorable ruling as regards its claims in the South China Sea. The detruction of the reefs was even more apparent. scarred Scarborough under China control. —NB, GMA News