Several residents fled their homes after a magnitude 5.2 earthquake rocked Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat around 3 a.m. on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) recorded the tremor initially at magnitude 5.3 before downgrading it to 5.2.

PHIVOLCS said the quake had a shallow depth of two kilometers and was tectonic in origin.

“Ang epicenter ay Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat, yung lalim niya is mababaw lang siya it’s 2 kilometers lang, yung origin is tectonic at ang magnitude niya is 5.2,” PHIVOLCS GenSan Chief, Nane Danlag, said.

Intensity III was experienced in General Santos City; Kiamba and Maitum, Sarangani; Santo Niño, T'boli , Lake Sebu, Norala, and Tupi, South Cotabato while Intensity II  was felt in Tampakan and Banga South Cotabato; and Glan, Alabel, Malungon, and Maasim in Sarangani.

Residents in the coastal areas of Barangay Sta. Clara, Kalamansig evacuated after the tremor.

A resident who uploaded a video online was seen loading their belongings into a vehicle to move to higher ground after reportedly noticing a receding water level along the shoreline, raising fears of a possible tsunami.

However, the local government of Kalamansig said the sea water levels remained normal.

“We have history of tsunami before, so we closely monitor kung merong pagbabago sa behavior ng dagat,” Kalamansig Mayor Ronan Eugene Garcia said.

“Hindi siya magti-trigger na bababa yung tubig kasi 5.2 lang… kasi pag tsunami at least yung magnitude niya is 6.5 and above and at saka yung intensity, sabihin natin intensity 6. Kahit sa dagat yung epicenter natin,” Danlag added.

No damage was reported following the quake, as of this writing.

“So far, wala namang malaking damage sa mga buildings, government, schools, no power interruptions, no casualty of this time,” Garcia said.

The provincial government suspended classes and work in private and public offices on Tuesday, January 20, to allow authorities to conduct a rapid damage assessment and ensure public safety.