Marine scientists found depressions or sunken areas that appear to be man-made on the ocean floor of Escoda Shoal, also called Sabina Shoal, that led to a “local extinction” of corals in the area in the West Philippine Sea. Jonathan Anticamara of the University of the Philippines Institute of Biology said the depressions were “a little bit deeper” and appeared to have been formed through “not a natural process.” and someone might have excavated the ocean floor for sampling purposes, usually of corals.

Dantes, C. (2024, June 9). Deep, man-made depressions in Escoda Shoal – scientists. Manila Standard, p. A1.