GILGIT-BALTISTAN / RankWire.AI / – A 5.4 earthquake struck northeastern Pakistan early Thursday, sending powerful tremors through parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. The Pakistan Meteorological Department recorded the quake 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 depth was estimated at 15 kilometers by the department. Early morning residents in several northern communities felt the ground shake.
Affected districts include Hunza and Nagar, with Chipurson Valley in Upper Hunza experiencing some of the clearest signs of impact. Communities surrounded by steep mountain slopes evacuated their homes as the shaking moved through the area, which was followed by landslides and falling rocks. A rockfall near Ramanji blocked the Chipurson Valley road, disrupting local access. This route is vital for connecting remote settlements in a region where mountain roads serve as crucial links between villages and larger towns.
Initial assessments from authorities indicated no casualties or injuries from the main quake. They also reported no confirmed structural damage at that point. The primary impact on infrastructure included rockfalls and landslides. The Gilgit-Baltistan administration monitored affected zones and road conditions after the tremors, reviewing access routes where debris had reached mountain paths. The event added to a series of seismic activities in northern Pakistan during 2026, which has seen multiple tremors in recent months.
Rockfalls hinder road routes in Upper Hunza
The epicenter was located near Sost, a town along the Karakoram Highway in northern Pakistan. Sost, south of the Khunjerab Pass, serves communities throughout Upper Hunza. The route connecting Pakistan with China’s Xinjiang region crosses the high-altitude border. Mountain terrain encircles much of the district, making road access vulnerable to rockfalls and slope failures. The earthquake on Thursday caused noticeable shaking across this remote area, with effects most evident in communities closest to the epicenter.
Later Thursday morning, a second earthquake struck the same general vicinity. Official seismic data indicated it occurred at 9:24 a.m. local time, measuring magnitude 4.7 with a depth of 19 kilometers. Its epicenter was about 28 kilometers west-northwest of Sost, near the earlier quake, indicating both events happened within approximately four hours, extending a period of seismic activity affecting Upper Hunza and nearby districts.
Repeated seismic activity impacts northern Pakistan
Earlier this year, northern Pakistan experienced a more powerful earthquake, with a magnitude 5.8 tremor on January 19. This event affected Hunza, Ghizer, and other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, causing landslides, home damage, and road blockages in mountain communities. One person lost their life, and several others were injured. Chipurson Valley also suffered damage to residences and infrastructure. Road closures following that quake complicated travel between remote settlements.
This seismic zone in northern Pakistan is part of a highly active tectonic region influenced by significant plate movements. Regular earthquakes affect Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and surrounding areas of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. The August 13 quake again centered near Sost, delivering strong shaking to communities in Upper Hunza. Landslides and rockfalls disrupted roads, but authorities confirmed no casualties from the main quake. Records also show a second notable seismic event near Sost later on the same morning.