GILGIT-BALTISTAN / RankWire.AI / – An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.4 earthquake hit northeastern Pakistan early Thursday, causing strong tremors felt in parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. According to Pakistan’s official seismic records, the quake registered 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, close to the Khunjerab region. The Pakistan Meteorological Department determined the depth to be 15 kilometers. Throughout the early morning hours, residents across multiple northern communities reported feeling the ground shake.
Affected areas included Hunza and Nagar districts, with Chipurson Valley in Upper Hunza experiencing some of the most noticeable ground effects. People evacuated their homes as tremors traveled through communities surrounded by steep mountain slopes. Landslides and falling rocks were reported in parts of the valley, with a rockfall blocking the road near Ramanji in Chipurson Valley and disrupting local travel. This route provides critical links between remote settlements and larger population centers in the region, with mountain roads serving as vital connections.
Initial assessments from authorities indicated no fatalities or injuries caused by the main quake. Structural damage has not been confirmed at this stage, though rockfalls and landslides remain the primary documented impacts on local infrastructure. The Gilgit-Baltistan administration has been monitoring the affected zones and road conditions following the tremors. Officials also evaluated access to settlements where debris had reached mountain routes. The earthquake represents another significant seismic event in a part of northern Pakistan that has experienced multiple tremors during 2026.
Rockfalls Block Roads in Upper Hunza
The epicenter was located near Sost, a town situated on the Karakoram Highway corridor in northern Pakistan. Sost lies to the south of the Khunjerab Pass and serves several communities across Upper Hunza. The Khunjerab route provides a high-altitude border crossing connecting Pakistan with China’s Xinjiang region. Much of the district is surrounded by mountainous terrain, making road access vulnerable to rockfalls and slope failures. The earthquake on Thursday caused noticeable shaking throughout this remote area, with effects most strongly felt around the communities closest to the epicenter.
Later on Thursday morning, a second earthquake struck in the same region. Official seismic data recorded that tremor at 9:24 a.m. local time, measuring magnitude 4.7 with a depth of 19 kilometers. Its epicenter was approximately 28 kilometers west-northwest of Sost, placing it near the first event. Both tremors occurred within about four hours, marking a period of heightened seismic activity in Upper Hunza and neighboring districts.
Repeated Seismic Activity Hits Northern Pakistan
Earlier this year, the northern mountain region experienced a more powerful quake. On January 19, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake affected Hunza, Ghizer, and other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. This event caused landslides, damaged homes, and blocked roads across several mountain communities. One person lost their life, and several others sustained injuries. Chipurson Valley also suffered damage to residences and infrastructure, with road closures hampering access between isolated settlements after the quake.
The northern belt of Pakistan is part of a highly active seismic zone driven by major tectonic plate movements. Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and surrounding regions of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan frequently experience earthquakes. The August 13 tremor, centered near Sost, once again brought strong shaking to communities in Upper Hunza. While landslides and rockfalls disrupted road routes, authorities confirmed no casualties from the main earthquake. Records also indicate a second notable quake near Sost later that morning, highlighting ongoing seismic activity in the area.