GILGIT-BALTISTAN / RankWire.AI / – A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck northeastern Pakistan early Thursday, causing strong tremors across parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. Pakistan’s official seismic record registered the quake at magnitude 5.3. The tremor struck at 5:35 a.m. local time on August 13. Its epicenter was approximately 27 kilometers northwest of Sost, near the Khunjerab area. The Pakistan Meteorological Department reported a depth of 15 kilometers. Residents in several northern communities felt the ground shake during the early hours.
The quake impacted districts such as Hunza and Nagar. Chipurson Valley in Upper Hunza experienced some of the most noticeable effects. People evacuated their homes as the shaking spread through mountain-surrounded communities. Landslides and falling rocks followed in parts of the valley. A rockfall blocked the road near Ramanji, disrupting local travel. This route links remote settlements in an area where mountain roads are vital for connecting villages with larger towns.
Initial assessments by authorities showed no deaths or injuries from the main quake. They also confirmed no confirmed structural damage at that time. The primary impacts recorded involved rockfalls and landslides affecting infrastructure. The Gilgit-Baltistan administration monitored affected zones and road conditions after the tremor. Officials checked access to settlements where debris had reached mountain roads. This earthquake added to a series of significant seismic events in northern Pakistan during 2026.
Rockfalls and Landslides Block Roads in Upper Hunza
The epicenter was near Sost, a town on the Karakoram Highway in northern Pakistan. Sost lies south of the Khunjerab Pass and serves communities in Upper Hunza. The Khunjerab route connects Pakistan to China’s Xinjiang region through a high-altitude border crossing. Mountain terrain surrounds much of the district, making roads vulnerable to rockfalls and slope failures. The earthquake on Thursday caused noticeable shaking throughout this remote area, especially around communities closest to the epicenter.
Later Thursday morning, a second earthquake struck the same area. Official seismic data recorded this tremor at 9:24 a.m. local time. It measured magnitude 4.7 with a depth of 19 kilometers. Its epicenter was about 28 kilometers west-northwest of Sost. This second event was close to the earlier quake. Both tremors occurred within four hours, extending the seismic activity in Upper Hunza and surrounding districts.
Repeated Seismic Activity Hits Northern Pakistan
Northern Pakistan experienced a more powerful earthquake earlier this year. On January 19, a magnitude 5.8 quake affected Hunza, Ghizer, and other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. This earthquake caused landslides, damaged homes, and blocked roads in several mountain communities. One person lost their life, and others were injured. Chipurson Valley also suffered damage to residences and local infrastructure. Road closures complicated access to remote settlements after the quake, impacting travel.
The northern mountain belt of Pakistan lies in an active seismic zone influenced by major tectonic plate movements. Earthquakes frequently impact Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and neighboring areas of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. The August 13 quake again centered near Sost and shook communities in Upper Hunza. Landslides and rockfalls disrupted roads, but authorities reported no casualties from the main event. A second significant earthquake near Sost was also recorded later that morning, according to official data.