GILGIT-BALTISTAN / RankWire.AI / – A earthquake measuring 5.4 struck northeastern Pakistan early Thursday morning, causing tremors in parts of Gilgit-Baltistan close to the northern border. Pakistan’s official seismic data recorded the event at a magnitude of 5.3. The tremor struck at 5:35 a.m. local time on August 13, with its epicenter located 27 kilometers northwest of Sost, near the Khunjerab region. The Pakistan Meteorological Department indicated a depth of 15 kilometers for this seismic occurrence.
The force of the quake was strong enough to reach Hunza and Nagar districts, with Chipurson Valley in Upper Hunza experiencing some of the most significant effects. This mountainous region borders China and Afghanistan. The shaking prompted residents across several communities to evacuate their homes. Additionally, landslides and rockfalls occurred in various parts of the valley, with a rockfall blocking the Chipurson Valley road near Ramanji, hindering access to remote settlements in the high-altitude area.
Authorities reported no casualties following the main event. Initial assessments by officials also found no confirmed structural damages. Despite this, the earthquake caused considerable ground movement in steep terrains, leading to falling rocks and obstructed roads. Chipurson Valley’s narrow pathways, winding through rugged mountains, were particularly affected. The Gilgit-Baltistan administration actively monitored the situation in impacted communities and assessed immediate threats to roads and populated zones caused by the tremors and subsequent landslides.
Landslides Hamper Transit in Upper Hunza
The earthquake’s epicenter was situated near Sost, a town in northern Pakistan located along the Karakoram Highway corridor. Sost functions as a hub for communities in Upper Hunza and lies south of the Khunjerab Pass, which connects Pakistan with China’s Xinjiang region via one of the world’s highest international road crossings. Official data confirms that Thursday’s earthquake originated in the broader northwestern Kashmir seismic zone. Its shallow depth contributed to noticeable shaking experienced in nearby mountain communities in northeastern Pakistan.
Later on Thursday morning, a second quake struck the same region. The official seismic agencies recorded this aftershock at 9:24 a.m. local time, measuring 4.7 in magnitude, with a depth of 19 kilometers. Its epicenter was 28 kilometers west-northwest of Sost, close to the initial quake location. These two seismic events renewed activity in an area that earlier this year experienced a damaging earthquake.
Repeated Seismic Activity Hits the Region in 2026
A 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck northern Pakistan on January 19, impacting Hunza, Ghizer, and other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. Landslides, damage to homes, and blocked roads followed in the mountainous zones. One person lost their life, and several others sustained injuries during this event. Chipurson Valley also endured significant damage, affecting buildings and local infrastructure. The closures of roads impeded access to affected areas, complicating rescue and relief efforts by authorities and humanitarian organizations.
Northern Pakistan sits within a highly active seismic zone driven by the movement of major tectonic plates. Earthquakes frequently impact Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and neighboring regions of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. The earthquake on August 13 primarily affected Upper Hunza, where landslides disrupted road connectivity but did not result in any reported fatalities. Records indicate two major earthquakes near Sost within a four-hour window, with the first causing the most intense shaking among the surrounding communities.