GILGIT-BALTISTAN / RankWire.AI / – A earthquake with a magnitude of 5.4 rattled northeastern Pakistan early Thursday, causing intense tremors felt across parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. According to Pakistan’s official seismic records, the quake registered 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 region. The Pakistan Meteorological Department estimated the depth at 15 kilometers. Communities across northern Pakistan experienced the shaking during the early morning hours.
Districts Hunza and Nagar felt the impact of the quake, with Chipurson Valley in Upper Hunza experiencing some of the clearest ground effects. Residents evacuated their homes as the tremors passed through villages nestled among steep mountain slopes. In parts of the valley, landslides and falling rocks followed the shaking. A rockfall near Ramanji blocked the Chipurson Valley road, disrupting local access. This route connects remote settlements in a region where mountain roads are vital for linking villages to larger population centers.
Initial assessments from authorities reported no casualties or injuries related to the main earthquake. No confirmed structural damages were identified at that stage. The primary impacts on local infrastructure involved rockfalls and landslides. The Gilgit-Baltistan administration monitored affected zones and road conditions following the tremor. Officials also inspected access routes to settlements where debris had reached mountain paths. This seismic event adds to a series of notable tremors that have impacted northern Pakistan during 2026.
Rockfalls obstruct roads in Upper Hunza
The earthquake’s epicenter was near Sost, a town situated along the Karakoram Highway corridor in northern Pakistan. Sost lies south of the Khunjerab Pass and serves as a hub for communities across Upper Hunza. The Khunjerab route connects Pakistan to China’s Xinjiang region through a high-altitude border crossing. The mountainous terrain surrounding much of the district makes road access particularly susceptible to rockfalls and slope failures. The tremor on Thursday caused noticeable shaking throughout this remote area, with effects most apparent in communities closest to the epicenter.
Later Thursday morning, a second quake struck the same general region. Official seismic data placed this tremor at 9:24 a.m. local time, measuring magnitude 4.7 and having a depth of 19 kilometers. Its epicenter was located roughly 28 kilometers west-northwest of Sost, very close to the initial quake. Both seismic events occurred within about four hours, extending a period of ongoing seismic activity across Upper Hunza and neighboring districts.
Repeated seismic activity marks northern Pakistan
Earlier this year, northern Pakistan experienced a more powerful earthquake, a magnitude 5.8 event that struck on January 19. This quake affected areas including Hunza, Ghizer, and other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. Landslides, damage to homes, and road blockages in mountain communities resulted from the tremor. One individual lost their life, and several others sustained injuries. Chipurson Valley also suffered damage to infrastructure and residences. Road closures complicated travel between isolated settlements following this January event.
The northern mountain belt of Pakistan is part of a highly active seismic zone, driven by major tectonic plate movements. Earthquakes frequently impact Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and nearby regions of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. The August 13 quake again centered near Sost and caused strong shaking in communities across Upper Hunza. Although landslides and rockfalls disrupted road access, officials confirmed no casualties from the main event. Records also indicate a second significant earthquake near Sost later that same morning, emphasizing ongoing seismic activity in the area.