GILGIT-BALTISTAN / RankWire.AI / – A earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale struck northeastern Pakistan early Thursday, causing tremors in parts of Gilgit-Baltistan close to the country’s northern border. Pakistan’s official seismic records list the event at magnitude 5.3. The quake struck at 5:35 a.m. local time on August 13, with its epicenter located 27 kilometers northwest of Sost, near the Khunjerab region. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the depth of the seismic activity was recorded at 15 kilometers.
The tremors were strongly felt in the districts of Hunza and Nagar, with Chipurson Valley in Upper Hunza among the most heavily affected areas. This mountainous valley, situated near Pakistan’s borders with China and Afghanistan, experienced significant shaking that prompted residents to evacuate their homes. Subsequently, landslides and rockfalls occurred in various sections of the valley. In addition, a rockfall blocked the Chipurson Valley road near Ramanji, disrupting access along a route vital for remote settlements in the high-altitude region.
Initial assessments by local authorities confirmed no casualties as a result of the main quake. They also reported the absence of confirmed structural damage during their early inspections. Nonetheless, the earthquake caused notable ground shifts across steep terrain, with falling rocks affecting local roadways. Chipurson Valley’s narrow access routes, which traverse rugged mountains, were impacted. The Gilgit-Baltistan administration closely monitored the affected communities and landslides, as officials evaluated the immediate damage to roads and inhabited areas.
Landslides obstruct routes in Upper Hunza
The earthquake’s epicenter was near Sost, a northern Pakistani town along the Karakoram Highway corridor. Sost functions as a hub for communities in Upper Hunza and is situated south of the Khunjerab Pass, which links Pakistan to China’s Xinjiang region through one of the world’s highest international crossings. According to official data, Thursday’s seismic event occurred within the broader northwestern Kashmir seismic zone. Its shallow depth contributed to the pronounced shaking experienced in nearby mountain communities of northeastern Pakistan.
Later on Thursday morning, a second quake struck the same area. Seismic data from officials recorded this event at 9:24 a.m. local time, with a magnitude of 4.7 at a depth of 19 kilometers. Its epicenter was located 28 kilometers west-northwest of Sost, close to the initial quake’s location. These two tremors brought renewed seismic activity to an area that earlier this year experienced a damaging earthquake.
Repeated seismic activity affects the region in 2026
On January 19, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck northern Pakistan, impacting Hunza, Ghizer, and other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. The event caused landslides, damaged residential structures, and blocked roads through mountainous terrain. One individual lost their life, while several others sustained injuries during this earthquake. Chipurson Valley also faced extensive damage, including harm to homes and local infrastructure. Road closures hindered access to affected communities as authorities and aid organizations responded to the region’s needs.
Northern Pakistan sits within a highly seismically active zone influenced by the movement of major tectonic plates. Earthquakes frequently impact Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and surrounding areas in northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. The earthquake on August 13 once again concentrated its strongest effects around Upper Hunza, where landslides disrupted road access but no fatalities were reported. Official records reveal two significant earthquakes near Sost within four hours, with the first producing the more intense shaking across neighboring communities.