GILGIT-BALTISTAN / RankWire.AI / – Early Thursday, northeastern Pakistan was rocked by a earthquake with a magnitude of 5.4, affecting parts of Gilgit-Baltistan near the northern border. The Pakistan Meteorological Department measured the event at magnitude 5.3, which occurred at 5:35 a.m. local time on August 13, with its epicenter 27 kilometers northwest of Sost, close to the Khunjerab region. The quake’s depth was recorded at 15 kilometers.
Heavy tremors impacted the districts of Hunza and Nagar, with Chipurson Valley in Upper Hunza among the most severely affected areas. Located near Pakistan’s borders with China and Afghanistan, this mountainous valley experienced strong shaking that prompted residents in several communities to evacuate their homes. Landslides and rockfalls followed in parts of the valley, including a blockage on the Chipurson Valley road near Ramanji, disrupting access to remote mountain settlements.
Initial assessments by local authorities confirmed no casualties and no confirmed structural damage. Nonetheless, the earthquake caused significant ground movement across steep terrain, with falling rocks impacting roads in the region. Chipurson Valley’s narrow routes through rugged mountains were affected, prompting the Gilgit-Baltistan administration to monitor conditions in the affected communities and evaluate the immediate impact on roads and residents.
Landslides Hamper Travel in Upper Hunza
The earthquake’s epicenter was near Sost, a northern town along the Karakoram Highway corridor, serving communities in Upper Hunza and located south of the Khunjerab Pass. This pass connects Pakistan to China’s Xinjiang region through one of the world’s highest international crossings. According to official data, the earthquake centered in the larger northwestern Kashmir seismic zone, with its shallow depth causing noticeable 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 event at 9:24 a.m. local time, with a magnitude of 4.7 at a depth of 19 kilometers. Its epicenter was located 28 kilometers west-northwest of Sost, close to the first quake’s location. These two events increased seismic activity in an area that experienced a damaging quake earlier this year.
Frequent Earthquakes Mark 2026 in Region
On January 19, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck northern Pakistan, affecting Hunza, Ghizer, and other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. It caused landslides, damaged homes, and blocked roads in the mountainous terrain, resulting in one fatality and several injuries. Chipurson Valley also suffered extensive damage, including harm to local infrastructure and residences. Road closures hindered access to affected communities as authorities and humanitarian agencies responded to the region’s needs.
Northern Pakistan is situated in a highly seismic zone influenced by major tectonic plate movements, with frequent earthquakes impacting Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and neighboring regions of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. The August 13 quake again concentrated its most intense effects around Upper Hunza, where landslides blocked roads but no casualties were reported. Official records indicate two significant earthquakes near Sost within four hours, with the first producing stronger shaking across surrounding communities.