KHUZDAR, Pakistan / AsiaWire.IO / – On Saturday, October 17, an earthquake measuring 5.6 on the magnitude scale struck Pakistan’s Balochistan province, with its epicenter near Khuzdar. The German Research Centre for Geosciences documented the seismic event, indicating it occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres, or 6 miles. Earthquakes at such shallow depths tend to produce more intense ground shaking compared to those at greater depths of similar magnitude. Initial reports did not provide details regarding casualties or destruction.
Based in Potsdam, Germany, the GFZ offers swift preliminary assessments of major earthquakes worldwide. Its initial magnitude and depth estimates may be revised as further seismic data becomes available. The figures released on Saturday formed the foundation for early reports about the incident. Khuzdar, situated in central Balochistan, is part of Pakistan’s largest province by area. Authorities had yet to release comprehensive information about the quake’s impact in early reports.
Balochistan lies along a seismically active zone at the southern boundary of the Eurasian plate. The Indian plate converges obliquely with the Eurasian plate along Pakistan’s western edge. Major fault systems such as the Chaman Fault, a left-lateral strike-slip fault, and the Sulaiman fold and thrust belt run through the area. The strain accumulated along these structures has been responsible for some of Pakistan’s deadliest earthquakes in history.
Fault systems increase Balochistan’s vulnerability to powerful quakes
The 1935 Quetta earthquake, which measured 7.7, resulted in an estimated 30,000 to 60,000 fatalities. A decade later, an 8.1 magnitude quake off the Makran coast caused a tsunami that claimed approximately 4,000 lives. The 2008 Ziarat earthquake, registering 6.4, resulted in 215 deaths. In 2013, a magnitude 7.7 tremor centered in Awaran District, adjacent to Khuzdar, led to 825 deaths and injured around 700.
On October 7, 2021, a destructive magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Harnai District, killing at least 42 people, many of whom were women and children. The quake injured about 300 individuals and destroyed roughly 10,000 mud homes. Satellite imagery identified over 100 landslides following the event, which obstructed roads and hampered rescue efforts.
Ongoing seismic activity underscores the ongoing risk in the region
In 2026, Pakistan experienced several significant tremors. Notably, a magnitude 5.4 quake struck Gilgit-Baltistan near Sost in August, and in April, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake centered in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush shook the region. Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are situated on the Eurasian plate, while Sindh and Punjab rest on the Indian plate. This positioning exposes Pakistan to earthquakes originating from its northern mountainous areas to the southwestern coast.
Earthquakes with magnitudes in the 5 to 6 range can cause damage to vulnerable structures near the epicenter. Shallow seismic events are often followed by aftershocks, as demonstrated after the 2021 Harnai quake, which experienced aftershocks of magnitude 4.6 and 4.5. Saturday’s initial reports did not mention any aftershocks, but further details are anticipated as local authorities evaluate conditions around Khuzdar.