KHUZDAR, Pakistan / AsiaWire.IO / – According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake occurred close to Khuzdar in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Saturday, October 17. The GFZ indicated that the seismic event took place at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, roughly 6 miles. Shallow tremors tend to produce more intense surface shaking compared to deeper ones of similar magnitude. Initial reports have not mentioned any casualties or damage. Khuzdar is situated in the central part of the province.
The GFZ conveyed the earthquake’s magnitude and depth through its global monitoring service. This Potsdam-based center provides quick estimates of major seismic events worldwide. These initial figures can be revised as additional seismic data becomes available. The first reports on Saturday’s quake relied on the GFZ’s initial assessment. No further details about the impact on Khuzdar or neighboring districts have been released yet.
Balochistan is part of a seismically active zone along the southern boundary of the Eurasian plate. The Indian and Eurasian plates converge at an oblique angle along Pakistan’s western edge. Fault systems such as the Chaman Fault and the Sulaiman fold and thrust belt traverse the region. Movements along these faults have caused multiple destructive earthquakes over the past century. The western provinces of Pakistan frequently experience moderate tremors as a result.
Balochistan Faces a History of Devastating Earthquakes
The 1935 Quetta earthquake, which registered a magnitude of 7.7, resulted in the deaths of between 30,000 and 60,000 people. In 1945, a magnitude 8.1 quake off the Makran coast triggered a tsunami that caused about 4,000 fatalities. The 2008 earthquake in Ziarat District, with a magnitude of 6.4, claimed 215 lives. In September 2013, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Awaran District, bordering Khuzdar, resulted in 825 deaths and approximately 700 injuries.
More recently, on October 7, 2021, a magnitude 5.9 quake struck Harnai District. Occurring early in the morning while many residents were asleep, the tremor resulted in at least 42 deaths. Around 300 individuals were injured, and roughly 10,000 mud homes in Harnai and the Shahrag area were destroyed. Landslides obstructed roads and hampered rescue efforts. Hospitals became overwhelmed, and some victims were airlifted to Quetta.
Pakistan Experiences Multiple Seismic Events in 2026
Saturday’s earthquake adds to the series of seismic activities recorded across Pakistan this year. In August, a quake struck Gilgit-Baltistan near Sost. In April, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake centered in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region shook the country. Pakistan’s position along the boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plates makes it vulnerable to frequent earthquakes from the northern mountains to the southwestern coast.
Moderate seismic events of this size may cause damage to weaker structures near the epicenter, especially where construction standards are low. Aftershocks often follow shallow earthquakes in this region. The 2021 Harnai quake was succeeded by two aftershocks measuring 4.6 and 4.5. Initial reports about Saturday’s earthquake have not mentioned any aftershocks, but more information is expected as local authorities evaluate the situation around Khuzdar.