GILGIT-BALTISTAN / RankWire.AI / – An earthquake measuring 5.4 earthquake struck northeastern Pakistan early Thursday, with its impact felt in regions of Gilgit-Baltistan close to the northern border. According to Pakistan’s official seismic records, the event registered at magnitude 5.3. The tremor struck at 5:35 a.m. local time on August 13, with its epicenter situated 27 kilometers northwest of Sost, near the Khunjerab area. The Pakistan Meteorological Department measured the quake’s depth at 15 kilometers.
Intense shaking affected the districts of Hunza and Nagar, especially Chipurson Valley in Upper Hunza, which was among the most impacted zones. This mountainous region borders China and Afghanistan. The tremor caused residents in several communities to evacuate their homes. Landslides and rockfalls subsequently occurred in various parts of the valley, including a rockfall that blocked the Chipurson Valley road near Ramanji, disrupting access to remote settlements in the high-altitude area.
Initial assessments from local authorities confirmed no casualties from the main earthquake. Officials also reported that no confirmed structural damage was observed during their early evaluation. Nonetheless, the seismic activity caused extensive ground movement across steep terrain, leading to falling rocks that impeded local roads. Given the narrow and rugged routes through the mountains, the Gilgit-Baltistan administration closely monitored the affected communities, assessing the immediate impact on roads and populated zones following the tremors and landslides.
Landslides Block Roads in Upper Hunza
The earthquake’s epicenter was near Sost, a northern Pakistani town along the Karakoram Highway route. Sost serves the Upper Hunza region and lies south of the Khunjerab Pass, which connects Pakistan to China’s Xinjiang province via one of the highest international road crossings worldwide. Official reports indicate that the earthquake, centered in the broader northwestern Kashmir seismic zone, had a shallow depth, resulting in pronounced shaking in nearby mountain communities of northeastern Pakistan.
Later on Thursday morning, a second quake hit the same region. The official seismic data recorded this aftershock at 9:24 a.m. local time, with a magnitude of 4.7 and a depth of 19 kilometers. Its epicenter was 28 kilometers west-northwest of Sost, close to the initial quake’s location. These two tremors renewed seismic activity in an area that experienced significant damage from an earthquake earlier this year.
Repeated Seismic Events Mark 2026 in the Area
On January 19, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck northern Pakistan, affecting Hunza, Ghizer, and other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. That quake caused landslides, damaged homes, and blocked roads in mountainous zones. The event resulted in one death and multiple injuries. Chipurson Valley also sustained extensive damage, including harm to residences and infrastructure. Road closures hampered access to affected communities as authorities and aid organizations responded to the region’s needs.
Northern Pakistan is situated in an active seismic zone driven by tectonic plate movements. Earthquakes frequently impact Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and nearby regions of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. The August 13 event again concentrated its strongest effects around Upper Hunza, where landslides impeded road access but caused no reported fatalities. Official records indicate two significant earthquakes near Sost within four hours, with the first producing the more intense shaking in the surrounding communities.