GILGIT-BALTISTAN / RankWire.AI / – Early Thursday morning, a magnitude 5.4 earthquake hit northeastern Pakistan, causing strong tremors across parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. Pakistan’s official seismic records identified the quake as magnitude 5.3. The event occurred at 5:35 a.m. local time on August 13, with its epicenter approximately 27 kilometers northwest of Sost, near Khunjerab. The Pakistan Meteorological Department recorded the depth at 15 kilometers. Residents in various northern communities experienced the shaking early in the morning.
The seismic activity impacted districts of Hunza and Nagar, with Chipurson Valley in Upper Hunza witnessing some of the most noticeable ground effects. People evacuated their homes as the tremors moved through communities nestled among steep mountain slopes. Parts of the valley experienced landslides and falling rocks. A rockfall blocked the Chipurson Valley road near Ramanji, disrupting local access. This route connects remote settlements in a region where mountain roads are critical links between villages and larger population centers.
Initial assessments by authorities found no casualties or injuries resulting from the primary earthquake. They also reported no confirmed structural damages at that stage. The main documented impact on infrastructure was due to rockfalls and landslides. The Gilgit-Baltistan administration monitored affected zones and road conditions following the tremors. Officials also reviewed access routes to settlements where debris had reached mountain pathways. The earthquake marked another significant seismic event in a part of northern Pakistan that has experienced multiple tremors during 2026.
Rockfalls Disrupt Roadways in Upper Hunza
The earthquake’s epicenter was located close to Sost, a town on the Karakoram Highway corridor in northern Pakistan. Sost is situated south of the Khunjerab Pass and serves nearby communities in Upper Hunza. The Khunjerab route connects Pakistan with China’s Xinjiang region through a high-altitude border crossing. The mountainous terrain surrounding much of the district makes road access vulnerable to rockfalls and slope failures. The tremors experienced on Thursday produced noticeable shaking across this isolated region, primarily affecting communities nearest to the epicenter.
A second quake struck the same general area later Thursday morning. Official seismic data recorded that tremor at 9:24 a.m. local time, with a magnitude of 4.7 and a depth of 19 kilometers. Its epicenter was roughly 28 kilometers west-northwest of Sost, placing it very close to the earlier event. The occurrence of both tremors within approximately four hours extended a period of seismic activity affecting Upper Hunza and nearby districts.
Repeated Seismic Events Mark Northern Pakistan
Earlier this year, northern Pakistan experienced a more powerful quake. On January 19, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck the region, impacting Hunza, Ghizer, and other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. That quake triggered landslides, caused damage to homes, and blocked roads in several mountain communities. One person lost their life, and others sustained injuries. Chipurson Valley also suffered damage to infrastructure and residences. After the event, road closures complicated access and disrupted travel between isolated settlements.
This seismic belt in northern Pakistan is part of a highly active tectonic zone influenced by major plate movements. Earthquakes frequently affect Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and neighboring areas of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. The August 13 event, centered near Sost, again produced intense shaking in Upper Hunza. While landslides and rockfalls hindered road access, authorities confirmed no casualties from the main quake. Records also indicate a second notable seismic event in the same vicinity later that morning.