GILGIT-BALTISTAN / RankWire.AI / – An earthquake measuring 5.4 on the earthquake scale struck northeastern Pakistan early Thursday, resulting in noticeable tremors across parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. The Pakistan Meteorological Department recorded the event at magnitude 5.3. The tremor struck at 5:35 a.m. local time on August 13, with its epicenter approximately 27 kilometers northwest of Sost, near the Khunjerab area. The seismic agency indicated the depth at 15 kilometers. During the early morning hours, residents from multiple northern communities experienced the shaking firsthand.
Affected districts include Hunza and Nagar, with Chipurson Valley in Upper Hunza reporting some of the most apparent ground effects. Communities surrounded by steep mountain slopes evacuated their homes as the tremors propagated through the region. Subsequent landslides and falling rocks impacted parts of the valley, with a rockfall blocking the road near Ramanji and disrupting local access. This route connects remote settlements in a region where mountain roads are crucial for linking villages and larger population centers.
Initial assessments by authorities confirmed no fatalities or injuries resulting from the primary earthquake. No confirmed structural damage was reported at that stage. The main impacts on infrastructure consisted of rockfalls and landslides. The Gilgit-Baltistan administration closely monitored affected zones and road conditions following the tremors. Officials also evaluated access routes to settlements where debris had reached mountain roads. This seismic event added to a series of significant tremors that have affected northern Pakistan during 2026.
Rockfalls and Landslides Disrupt Roadways in Upper Hunza
The earthquake’s epicenter was near Sost, a town situated along the Karakoram Highway corridor in northern Pakistan. Located south of the Khunjerab Pass, Sost serves as a gateway for communities in Upper Hunza. The Khunjerab route connects Pakistan to China’s Xinjiang region through a high-altitude border crossing. The district’s mountainous terrain makes road access highly susceptible to rockfalls and slope failures. The tremors experienced on Thursday caused noticeable shaking across this remote area, with the strongest effects reported in communities closest to the epicenter.
Later Thursday morning, a second tremor struck the same vicinity. According to official seismic data, this event occurred at 9:24 a.m. local time, measuring 4.7 in magnitude and with a depth of 19 kilometers. Its epicenter was located roughly 28 kilometers west-northwest of Sost. Both seismic activities happened within approximately four hours, extending a pattern of ongoing tremors in Upper Hunza and neighboring districts.
Repeated Earthquakes Mark Seismic Risks in Northern Pakistan
Earlier this year, the region experienced a more powerful quake, with a magnitude of 5.8, which struck on January 19. This event affected areas such as Hunza, Ghizer, and other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. Landslides, home damages, and road blockages were among the consequences in various mountain communities. There was one fatality and several injuries reported. Chipurson Valley also sustained damage to homes and local infrastructure, with road closures complicating access to isolated settlements afterward.
Northern Pakistan’s mountain belt is part of a highly active seismic zone driven by major tectonic plate movements. Earthquakes frequently impact Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and surrounding regions of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. The earthquake on August 13 again centered near Sost, delivering strong shaking to communities in Upper Hunza. While landslides and rockfalls hindered road access, officials confirmed no casualties from the main tremor. Records also show a second notable earthquake in the same area later that morning, highlighting ongoing seismic activity in this fault-prone region.