GILGIT-BALTISTAN / RankWire.AI / – On August 13, early Thursday morning, a earthquake with a magnitude of 5.4 shook northeastern Pakistan, impacting parts of Gilgit-Baltistan near the northern border. The Pakistan Meteorological Department recorded a depth of 15 kilometers for this seismic event, which was officially rated at magnitude 5.3. The quake struck at 5:35 a.m. local time, with its epicenter situated 27 kilometers northwest of Sost, close to the Khunjerab area.
Regions including Hunza and Nagar experienced intense tremors, with Chipurson Valley in Upper Hunza among the zones most affected. Located near Pakistan’s borders with China and Afghanistan, this mountainous region saw residents evacuate their homes due to the shaking. The incident triggered landslides and rockfalls in various parts of the valley, and a rockfall near Ramanji blocked the Chipurson Valley road, hampering access to remote settlements in this high-altitude area.
Initial assessments by local authorities indicate no casualties have been reported so far. Officials also confirmed that no structural damage has been verified during their preliminary evaluation. Nevertheless, the earthquake caused significant ground shifts on steep terrains, with falling rocks disrupting local roads. Since Chipurson Valley features narrow routes through rugged mountains, the Gilgit-Baltistan administration is actively monitoring affected communities and evaluating the immediate impact on infrastructure and residents following the tremors and associated landslides.
Landslides Block Roads in Upper Hunza
The earthquake’s epicenter was near Sost, a northern Pakistani town situated along the Karakoram Highway corridor. Sost serves the settlements of Upper Hunza and lies south of the Khunjerab Pass, which connects Pakistan to China’s Xinjiang region through one of the highest international crossings. According to official data, the earthquake was centered in the broader northwestern Kashmir seismic zone, with its shallow depth causing noticeable tremors in nearby mountain communities of northeastern Pakistan.
Later on Thursday morning, a second quake hit the same area, registered at 9:24 a.m. local time. The second event measured 4.7 in magnitude and occurred at a depth of 19 kilometers, with its epicenter 28 kilometers west-northwest of Sost, close to the initial quake’s location. These two seismic events have brought renewed activity to an area that experienced a damaging earthquake earlier this year.
Repeated Earthquakes Mark the Region in 2026
On January 19, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck northern Pakistan, affecting regions including Hunza, Ghizer, and other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. This seismic event caused landslides, destruction of homes, and road blockages within mountainous zones. One individual lost their life, and several others sustained injuries during the January earthquake. Chipurson Valley suffered extensive damage, impacting residential structures and local infrastructure. The resulting road closures complicated access to affected communities as authorities and aid organizations responded to the crisis.
Northern Pakistan is situated in a highly active seismic zone driven by tectonic plate movements. Frequent earthquakes impact Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and neighboring regions of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. The August 13 tremor mainly affected Upper Hunza, where landslides hindered road access but no casualties were reported. Official records indicate two significant earthquakes near Sost within four hours, with the first producing the strongest shaking among the affected communities.