GILGIT-BALTISTAN / RankWire.AI / – A earthquake measuring 5.4 magnitude struck northeastern Pakistan early Thursday morning, causing intense tremors felt across parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. The official seismic record from Pakistan reported the quake at magnitude 5.3. The shaking occurred at 5:35 a.m. local time on August 13, with the epicenter located approximately 27 kilometers northwest of Sost, near the Khunjerab region. The Pakistan Meteorological Department estimated the depth at 15 kilometers. Residents in several northern communities experienced the tremors during the early hours.
Affected districts include Hunza and Nagar, with Chipurson Valley in Upper Hunza reporting some of the most pronounced ground effects. As the tremors moved through communities surrounded by steep mountain slopes, residents evacuated their homes. In parts of the valley, landslides and falling rocks followed the shaking, with a rockfall blocking the Chipurson Valley road near Ramanji, disrupting local access. This route provides critical connectivity between remote settlements and larger population centers in the mountainous region.
Initial assessments by authorities indicated no fatalities or injuries resulting from the main quake. There were also no confirmed structural damages at that stage. The primary impacts on local infrastructure involved rockfalls and landslides. After the tremor, the Gilgit-Baltistan administration monitored affected areas and road conditions, reviewing access to settlements where debris had obstructed mountain routes. This seismic activity marked another significant event in a region of northern Pakistan that has experienced multiple tremors during 2026.
Rockfalls Disrupt Road Access in Upper Hunza
The quake’s epicenter was situated near Sost, a town on the Karakoram Highway corridor in northern Pakistan. Located south of the Khunjerab Pass, Sost serves as a hub for communities in Upper Hunza. The Khunjerab route connects Pakistan with China’s Xinjiang region through a high-altitude border crossing. Mountainous terrain dominates much of the district, rendering road access vulnerable to rockfalls and slope failures. The earthquake on Thursday generated noticeable tremors across this remote area, with reports indicating the strongest effects near the communities closest to the epicenter.
Later on Thursday morning, a second earthquake struck the same general vicinity. Official seismic data recorded that tremor at 9:24 a.m. local time, measuring 4.7 in magnitude and with a depth of 19 kilometers. Its epicenter was approximately 28 kilometers west-northwest of Sost. The proximity of this event to the initial quake indicates both occurred within roughly four hours, extending a period of heightened seismic activity across Upper Hunza and neighboring districts.
Repeated Seismic Movements in Northern Pakistan
Earlier this year, the region also experienced a more powerful earthquake. On January 19, a magnitude 5.8 quake impacted Hunza, Ghizer, and other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. That event caused landslides, damaged homes, and blocked roads within mountain communities. There was one fatality, and several others sustained injuries. Chipurson Valley also endured damage to residences and infrastructure. Post-earthquake road closures complicated transportation and access between isolated settlements.
The northern mountain belt of Pakistan is part of a highly active seismic zone driven by major tectonic movements. Earthquakes frequently affect Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and nearby regions of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. The earthquake on August 13 again centered near Sost, delivering strong shaking to communities in Upper Hunza. While landslides and rockfalls temporarily hampered road access, officials confirmed no casualties from the main event. Additionally, records indicate a second significant tremor occurred nearby later that same morning.