GILGIT-BALTISTAN / RankWire.AI / – Following a magnitude 5.4 earthquake
that struck northeastern Pakistan early Thursday, parts of Gilgit-Baltistan close to the northern border experienced tremors. Pakistan’s official seismic data recorded the event at magnitude 5.3. The quake hit at 5:35 a.m. local time on August 13, with its epicenter situated 27 kilometers northwest of Sost, near the Khunjerab region. The Pakistan Meteorological Department documented a depth of 15 kilometers for this seismic activity.
Intense shaking impacted districts such as Hunza and Nagar, with Chipurson Valley in Upper Hunza among the zones most severely affected. This mountainous region borders China and Afghanistan, and the tremors prompted residents to evacuate their homes in several communities. Subsequent landslides and rockfalls occurred in parts of the valley, with one blocking the Chipurson Valley road near Ramanji, hampering access to remote settlements in the high-altitude area.
Initial assessments by local authorities indicated no casualties resulting from the main quake, and no confirmed structural damage was reported. Nonetheless, the seismic event caused significant ground movement across steep terrains, with falling rocks affecting local roads. The narrow routes through rugged mountains in Chipurson Valley faced disruptions, prompting the Gilgit-Baltistan administration to monitor conditions in the affected communities as officials evaluated the immediate impact on infrastructure and residents.
Landslides hinder accessibility in Upper Hunza
The earthquake’s epicenter was near Sost, a northern Pakistani town along the Karakoram Highway corridor. Sost connects communities in Upper Hunza and lies south of the Khunjerab Pass, which links Pakistan to China’s Xinjiang region via one of the highest international road crossings in the world. Official data indicated that Thursday’s quake originated within the broader northwestern Kashmir seismic zone. Its shallow depth contributed to noticeable shaking across nearby mountain communities in northeastern Pakistan.
Later on Thursday morning, another tremor struck the same region. Official seismic records show the second event occurred at 9:24 a.m. local time, measuring magnitude 4.7 with a depth of 19 kilometers. Its epicenter was located 28 kilometers west-northwest of Sost, close to the initial earthquake’s location. These two seismic events reignited activity in an area that experienced a damaging quake earlier this year.
Repeated seismic activity affects the region in 2026
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake hit northern Pakistan on January 19, impacting areas such as Hunza, Ghizer, and other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. This event caused landslides, structural damages, and road blockages across mountainous zones. The earthquake resulted in one death and injuries to several individuals. Chipurson Valley suffered serious damage, including harm to homes and infrastructure. Road closures created obstacles for accessing affected communities as authorities and relief agencies responded to those impacted in the region.
Northern Pakistan is situated within a highly active seismic zone influenced by the movement of major tectonic plates. Earthquakes regularly impact Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and neighboring regions of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. The August 13 quake again mainly affected Upper Hunza, where landslides disrupted transportation, yet there were no reports of fatalities. Official data showed two significant earthquakes near Sost within four hours, with the initial event causing stronger tremors in the surrounding areas.