GILGIT-BALTISTAN / RankWire.AI / – The recent earthquake measuring 5.4 magnitude hit northeastern Pakistan early Thursday, causing strong tremors felt across parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. According to Pakistan’s official seismic data, the quake registered at magnitude 5.3. It struck at 5:35 a.m. local time on August 13, with its epicenter approximately 27 kilometers northwest of Sost, near the Khunjerab region. The Pakistan Meteorological Department recorded the depth at 15 kilometers. Residents in several northern communities experienced the tremors during the early morning hours.
The seismic activity impacted areas including Hunza and Nagar districts, with Chipurson Valley in Upper Hunza reporting some of the clearest signs of ground effects. People evacuated their homes as the tremors traveled through communities nestled among steep mountain slopes. In certain parts of the valley, landslides and falling rocks followed the shaking. A rockfall obstructed the Chipurson Valley road near Ramanji, disrupting local access. This route is crucial for reaching remote settlements in a region where mountain roads serve as essential links between villages and larger towns.
Initial assessments from authorities indicated no fatalities or injuries resulting from the main quake. There was also no confirmed structural damage at that stage. The main impact on local infrastructure involved rockfalls and landslides. The Gilgit-Baltistan administration continued to monitor the affected zones and road conditions following the tremors. Officials examined access routes to settlements where debris had fallen onto mountain roads. This earthquake marked another significant seismic event in an area of northern Pakistan that has experienced multiple tremors throughout 2026.
Rockfalls hinder road connectivity in Upper Hunza
The epicenter was situated close to Sost, a town on the Karakoram Highway corridor in northern Pakistan. Sost lies south of the Khunjerab Pass and provides access to communities across Upper Hunza. The Khunjerab route connects Pakistan with China’s Xinjiang region through a high-altitude border crossing. The mountainous terrain surrounding much of the district makes road access particularly vulnerable to rockfalls and slope failures. The tremor experienced on Thursday caused noticeable shaking across this remote area, with effects mainly reported near communities closest to the epicenter.
Later on Thursday morning, a second earthquake struck the same general vicinity. The official seismic data recorded this tremor at 9:24 a.m. local time, measuring 4.7 magnitude with a depth of 19 kilometers. Its epicenter was located roughly 28 kilometers west-northwest of Sost. This second quake was close in location to the initial event, occurring within about four hours and extending a pattern of seismic activity affecting Upper Hunza and neighboring districts.
Repeated seismic events hit northern Pakistan
Earlier this year, northern Pakistan experienced a more powerful earthquake. On January 19, a magnitude 5.8 quake affected regions including Hunza, Ghizer, and other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. That event caused landslides, damaged homes, and blocked roads in several mountain communities, resulting in one fatality and multiple injuries. Chipurson Valley also sustained damage to structures and infrastructure, complicating access to remote settlements following the quake.
The northern mountain belt of Pakistan is part of a highly active seismic zone driven by significant tectonic plate movements. Earthquakes are common in Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and nearby regions of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. The earthquake on August 13, which again centered near Sost, brought strong shaking to communities in Upper Hunza. While landslides and rockfalls disrupted road access, authorities confirmed no casualties from the main event. Additionally, official records indicated a second notable tremor occurred nearby later that morning.
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