GILGIT-BALTISTAN / RankWire.AI / – The Pakistan Meteorological Department reported that a magnitude 5.4 earthquake impacted northeastern Pakistan early Thursday, causing tremors in regions of Gilgit-Baltistan close to the northern border. According to official seismic records from Pakistan, the event registered at magnitude 5.3. The quake struck at 5:35 a.m. local time on August 13, with its epicenter situated 27 kilometers northwest of Sost, near the Khunjerab area. The Pakistan Meteorological Department documented the event at a depth of 15 kilometers.
Intense tremors were felt in the districts of Hunza and Nagar, with Chipurson Valley in Upper Hunza among the hardest-hit regions. This mountainous valley, which borders China and Afghanistan, experienced significant shaking that prompted residents to evacuate their homes. Landslides and rockfalls followed in several parts of the area, including a rockfall that blocked the Chipurson Valley road near Ramanji, disrupting access to remote settlements within the high-altitude region.
Initial assessments by local authorities confirmed that there were no casualties resulting from the main quake. Officials also reported that no structural damage had been confirmed yet. However, the seismic activity caused considerable ground movement across rugged terrain, leading to falling rocks that affected local roads. Chipurson Valley’s narrow routes, carved through steep mountains, were affected by the shaking. The Gilgit-Baltistan administration closely monitored conditions in impacted communities and assessed the immediate impact on infrastructure and settlements following the event and subsequent landslides.
Landslides Hamper Access in Upper Hunza
The earthquake’s epicenter was near Sost, a northern town in Pakistan along the Karakoram Highway corridor. Sost serves the Upper Hunza region and lies south of the Khunjerab Pass, which connects Pakistan to China’s Xinjiang area via one of the world’s highest international crossings. According to official data, Thursday’s quake was centered within the broader northwestern Kashmir seismic zone. Its shallow depth resulted in perceptible shaking across nearby mountain communities in northeastern Pakistan.
Later on Thursday morning, a second quake struck the same region. The official seismic data recorded this aftershock at 9:24 a.m. local time, measuring magnitude 4.7 and occurring at a depth of 19 kilometers. Its epicenter was 28 kilometers west-northwest of Sost, close to where the initial quake originated. These two seismic events heightened activity in an area that experienced a damaging earthquake earlier this year.
Repeated Seismic Events Mark 2026 in the Area
On January 19, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck northern Pakistan, impacting Hunza, Ghizer, and other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. The quake triggered landslides, caused structural damage, and blocked roads in mountainous regions. One individual lost their life, and several others sustained injuries during this event. Chipurson Valley also suffered extensive damage, affecting homes and local infrastructure, while road closures hindered access to affected settlements as authorities and aid organizations responded to the region’s needs.
Northern Pakistan is situated within an active seismic zone driven by major tectonic plate movements. Earthquakes frequently impact Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and adjacent areas of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. The earthquake on August 13 again mainly affected Upper Hunza, where landslides disrupted road access but no fatalities were reported. Official records indicate two notable quakes near Sost within four hours, with the initial event producing stronger tremors in the surrounding communities.