KALAMANSIG, Sultan Kudarat — A magnitude 5.1 earthquake jolted Sultan Kudarat on Thursday morning, January 29, 2026, the latest in a relentless “earthquake swarm” that has triggered preemptive evacuations and class suspensions across the region.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded the tectonic quake at 07:43 a.m., with its epicenter located 38 kilometers southwest of Kalamansig at a depth of 10 kilometers.
Earthquake Swarm Data Phivolcs has been monitoring an extraordinary level of seismic activity offshore Sultan Kudarat since late January:
- Total Count: A staggering 2,264 earthquakes have been recorded in the area from January 19 (10:52 p.m.) to January 29 (7:00 a.m.).
- Intensity and Scale: Magnitudes in the swarm have ranged from 1.3 to 5.9. Out of the total, 677 quakes were plotted and 84 were reported as “felt” by residents.
- Instrumental Intensities: Thursday’s 5.1 quake was felt at Intensity II in T’Boli and Surallah (South Cotabato) and Palimbang and Lebak (Sultan Kudarat). Intensity I was recorded in parts of Sarangani and Zamboanga City.
Safety Measures and Impact Local government units (LGUs) have taken aggressive measures to ensure public safety as the quakes persist:
- Evacuations: Residents of coastal barangays in Kalamansig took refuge at evacuation centers on Wednesday after officials ordered preemptive evacuations due to the continuous shaking.
- Sultan Kudarat Closures: Classes and work remain suspended in the Kalepa area (Kalamansig, Lebak, and Palimbang) until further notice.
- South Cotabato Suspensions: In Surallah, Mayor Pedro M. Matinong Jr. declared a suspension of classes at all levels for both public and private schools today to allow for structural integrity inspections of school buildings.
- Displacement: Previous reports indicate that at least 350 families have already been displaced by the ongoing swarm.
The Outlook Phivolcs continues to monitor the swarm, noting that such clusters of earthquakes are often tectonic in nature and can persist for days or even weeks. While most of the quakes have occurred offshore, the constant tremors have caused significant anxiety among residents and prompted local officials to remain on high alert for potential structural damage or larger seismic events.
Emergency management teams from the Philippine Coast Guard and local disaster risk reduction offices are currently stationed in the affected towns to assist in relief operations and ensure that evacuation protocols are followed.