KHUZDAR, Pakistan / AsiaWire.IO / – According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck close to Khuzdar in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Saturday, October 17. The GFZ indicated that the seismic event occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres, roughly 6 miles. Shallow quakes tend to cause more intense shaking at the surface compared to deeper ones of similar magnitude. Initial reports did not mention any casualties or destruction. Khuzdar is situated in the central part of the province.
The magnitude and depth data were issued by the GFZ through its global earthquake monitoring platform. The Potsdam-based institute provides rapid assessments for major seismic events worldwide. These early estimates can be updated as additional seismic information becomes available. The initial reports on Saturday’s quake relied solely on GFZ’s preliminary figures. No further details regarding the quake’s impact on Khuzdar and surrounding districts have been released at this stage.
Balochistan is part of a seismically active zone located on the southern boundary of the Eurasian plate. The region experiences the convergence of the Indian and Eurasian plates along Pakistan’s western edge. Fault systems, such as the Chaman Fault and the Sulaiman fold and thrust belt, traverse the area. Movement along these fault lines has historically caused numerous destructive earthquakes over the past century, leading to regular moderate tremors in Pakistan’s western provinces.
Balochistan Has a History of Devastating Earthquakes
The 1935 Quetta earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.7, resulted in the deaths of between 30,000 and 60,000 people. An earthquake measuring 8.1 off the Makran coast in 1945 triggered a tsunami that killed approximately 4,000 individuals. In 2008, Ziarat District experienced a magnitude 6.4 quake that claimed 215 lives. Additionally, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Awaran District in September 2013, which borders Khuzdar, caused 825 fatalities and injured about 700.
More recently, on October 7, 2021, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake hit Harnai District. The tremor struck early in the morning while many residents were sleeping, resulting in at least 42 deaths. About 300 people were injured, and roughly 10,000 mud homes were destroyed across Harnai and the Shahrag region. Landslides obstructed roads, hindering rescue efforts. Hospitals became overwhelmed, and some injured individuals were airlifted to Quetta.
Pakistan Experiences Multiple Seismic Events in 2026
The earthquake on Saturday adds to a series of seismic activities across Pakistan this year. In August, a quake was felt in Gilgit-Baltistan near Sost. In April, a magnitude 6.2 quake centered in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region affected Pakistan. The country’s position straddling the boundary where the Indian and Eurasian plates meet makes it prone to frequent earthquakes, from the northern mountains to the southwestern coast.
Moderate tremors of this magnitude can cause damage to weaker structures near the epicenter, especially where construction standards are subpar. Aftershocks are common following shallow earthquakes in this zone. The 2021 Harnai event was followed by two aftershocks of magnitudes 4.6 and 4.5. Saturday’s initial reports did not specify any aftershocks, but further updates are anticipated as local authorities evaluate conditions around Khuzdar.