LAKE SEBU, South Cotabato – Prices of freshwater tilapia have significantly dropped in Lake Sebu following a massive fish kill, locally known as "kamahong," affecting fish cages in the lake, an official said Wednesday.

"We are still determining the cost of damages, but a huge volume of tilapia supplies have died due to lack of oxygen and sudden change in water temperature due to heavy rains the past few days," Jose Rudy Muyco, the municipal lake custodian, said in a radio interview.

Muyco reported that fish cage operators are selling their prematurely harvested fish at very low prices "just to break even."

Tilapia, which previously retailed for P150 to P180 per kilogram, is now being sold in the municipality for P50 to P80 per kilogram.

"This is due to 'kamahong' (massive fish kill) in the lake," Muyco stated.

He added that the total cost of damage could still increase as the municipal fishery office continues to consolidate reports.

Muyco explained that the kamahong was triggered by depleted oxygen levels in the lake, overpopulation in fish cages, and an accumulation of chemical feed supplies at the lakebed.

He also believes that torrential rains spawned by tropical cyclone ‘’Crising’’ and the southwest monsoon, which affected Mindanao over the past week, contributed to the fish kill, similar to past incidents.

Fish vendors in nearby Koronadal City have reported that the fish kill has impacted their tilapia sales, as consumers are hesitant to buy the fish due to concerns over the kamahong occurrence.