GILGIT-BALTISTAN / RankWire.AI / – A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck northeastern Pakistan early Thursday, causing tremors in parts of Gilgit-Baltistan close to the country’s northern border. The Pakistan Meteorological Department registered the quake at magnitude 5.3. The event occurred at 5:35 a.m. local time on August 13, with its epicenter located 27 kilometers northwest of Sost, near the Khunjerab region. The seismic agency reported a depth of 15 kilometers for this event.
Intense tremors impacted the districts of Hunza and Nagar, with Chipurson Valley in Upper Hunza among the most affected zones. Situated near the borders with China and Afghanistan, this mountainous valley experienced significant shaking that prompted residents in various communities to evacuate their homes. Following the quake, landslides and rockfalls emerged in several parts of the valley. A rockslide also obstructed the Chipurson Valley road near Ramanji, hampering access along a route that connects remote settlements in the high-altitude region.
Authorities reported no casualties so far after the main earthquake. Initial assessments by officials found no confirmed structural damages. However, the quake caused considerable ground movement across the steep terrain, leading to falling rocks that affected local roads. Chipurson Valley’s narrow access routes, carved through rugged mountains, were impacted. The Gilgit-Baltistan administration continues monitoring the affected communities, evaluating the immediate effects on roads and populated areas caused by the seismic activity and subsequent landslides.
Landslides Hamper Access in Upper Hunza
The quake’s epicenter was near Sost, a northern Pakistani town along the Karakoram Highway corridor. Sost serves communities in Upper Hunza and lies south of the Khunjerab Pass, which connects Pakistan to China’s Xinjiang region through one of the world’s highest international road crossings. Official data indicates that Thursday’s earthquake originated in the broader northwestern Kashmir seismic zone. Its shallow depth contributed to the noticeable shaking experienced by nearby mountain communities in northeastern Pakistan.
A second earthquake struck the same region later Thursday morning. According to official seismic data, it occurred 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 site of the initial quake. These two seismic events have reactivated a zone that experienced a damaging earthquake earlier this year.
Repeated Seismic Activity Affects the Region in 2026
On January 19, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck northern Pakistan, impacting areas including Hunza, Ghizer, and other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. This quake caused landslides, damaged homes, and blocked roads across the mountainous terrain. One person lost their life, and several others sustained injuries during this incident. Chipurson Valley also suffered serious damage, affecting residences and local infrastructure. Road closures hindered access to affected settlements as authorities and humanitarian agencies responded to the region’s needs.
Northern Pakistan is situated within a highly active seismic zone driven by major tectonic plate movements. Earthquakes frequently impact Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and neighboring areas of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. The earthquake on August 13 concentrated its strongest effects around Upper Hunza, where landslides disrupted road access but resulted in no reported fatalities. According to official records, two significant earthquakes occurred near Sost within four hours, with the first causing stronger shaking across surrounding communities.