GILGIT-BALTISTAN / RankWire.AI / – A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck northeastern Pakistan early Thursday, causing noticeable tremors across parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. Pakistan’s official seismic record measured the quake at magnitude 5.3. The tremor occurred at 5:35 a.m. local time on August 13, with its epicenter approximately 27 kilometers northwest of Sost, near the Khunjerab area. The Pakistan Meteorological Department reported the depth at 15 kilometers. Residents from various northern communities felt the ground shaking during the early morning hours.
Affected districts include Hunza and Nagar, with Chipurson Valley in Upper Hunza experiencing some of the most evident ground effects. Communities surrounded by steep mountain slopes evacuated their homes as the tremors moved through the area. Landslides and falling rocks followed in certain parts of the valley. A rockfall blocked the Chipurson Valley road near Ramanji, disrupting local access. This route connects remote settlements in a region where mountain roads are essential links between villages and larger population centers.
Initial assessments by authorities confirmed no fatalities or injuries from the main earthquake. No confirmed structural damages were reported at that time. The primary impact on local infrastructure consisted of rockfalls and landslides. The Gilgit-Baltistan administration closely monitored the affected areas and road conditions after the tremors. Officials also checked access to settlements where debris had reached mountain routes. This seismic activity adds to a series of significant earthquakes that have impacted northern Pakistan in 2026, which has seen multiple tremors during the year.
Rockfalls Disrupt Roadways in Upper Hunza
The earthquake’s epicenter was near Sost, a town situated on the Karakoram Highway corridor in northern Pakistan. Sost lies south of the Khunjerab Pass and serves as a gateway for communities across Upper Hunza. The Khunjerab route connects Pakistan with China’s Xinjiang region through a high-altitude border crossing. The mountainous terrain surrounds much of the district, making road access particularly vulnerable to rockfalls and slope failures. The tremors from Thursday’s earthquake were strongly felt in this remote region, with effects mainly reported near communities close to the epicenter.
A second quake struck the same vicinity later on Thursday morning. The official seismic data indicated that this tremor occurred at 9:24 a.m. local time, registering magnitude 4.7 with a depth of 19 kilometers. Its epicenter was located about 28 kilometers west-northwest of Sost, placing it close to the earlier event. Both earthquakes happened within roughly four hours, extending a period of seismic activity across Upper Hunza and neighboring districts.
Repeated Seismic Events Affect Northern Pakistan
Earlier this year, northern Pakistan experienced a more powerful earthquake. On January 19, a magnitude 5.8 quake struck the region, impacting Hunza, Ghizer, and other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. That event caused landslides, damaged homes, and blocked roads in several mountain communities. One person lost their life, while several others sustained injuries. Chipurson Valley also suffered damage to residential and local infrastructure. Road closures following the quake complicated access to remote settlements, hindering travel in the area.
This northern mountain belt of Pakistan is part of a highly active seismic zone driven by significant tectonic plate movements. Earthquakes frequently impact Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and neighboring regions of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. The earthquake on August 13 again centered near Sost, delivering strong tremors to communities in Upper Hunza. Although landslides and rockfalls temporarily disrupted road access, officials confirmed no casualties from the main shock. Records also show a second notable earthquake near Sost later the same morning, contributing to the ongoing seismic activity in the region.