GILGIT-BALTISTAN / RankWire.AI / – A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck northeastern Pakistan early Thursday, shaking regions of Gilgit-Baltistan close to the northern border of the country. The Pakistan Meteorological Department recorded the event at a magnitude of 5.3. The tremor hit at 5:35 a.m. local time on August 13, with its epicenter located 27 kilometers northwest of Sost, near the Khunjerab region. The seismic agency registered a depth of 15 kilometers for this event.
The strongest tremors reached the districts of Hunza and Nagar, with Chipurson Valley in Upper Hunza being among the worst affected areas. Situated near Pakistan’s borders with China and Afghanistan, the mountainous valley experienced intense shaking that prompted residents to evacuate their homes. Landslides and rockfalls followed in several parts of the valley, including a rockfall that blocked the Chipurson Valley road near Ramanji, disrupting access to remote communities situated in high-altitude regions.
Authorities reported no casualties resulting from the initial quake and found no confirmed structural damage during their preliminary evaluations. Nonetheless, the earthquake caused considerable ground movement across rugged terrain, leading to falling rocks that impacted local roads. The narrow routes through Chipurson Valley traverse challenging mountain terrain. The Gilgit-Baltistan administration has been actively monitoring community conditions affected by the tremors and landslides as officials evaluate the immediate impact on infrastructure and settlements.
Landslides Cut Off Access in Upper Hunza
The earthquake’s epicenter was situated near Sost, a northern Pakistani town along the Karakoram Highway corridor. Sost serves the communities in Upper Hunza and lies south of the Khunjerab Pass, which links Pakistan with China’s Xinjiang region through one of the world’s highest international road crossings. According to official data, Thursday’s quake was centered in the broader northwestern Kashmir seismic zone. Its shallow depth contributed to noticeable shaking across nearby mountain communities in northeastern Pakistan.
Later on the same Thursday morning, a second earthquake struck the same region. Seismic data recorded this event at 9:24 a.m. local time, with a magnitude of 4.7 at a depth of 19 kilometers. Its epicenter was 28 kilometers west-northwest of Sost, near the initial quake’s location. The two seismic events reignited activity in an area that experienced a damaging earthquake earlier this year.
Repeated Seismic Activity Markes the Region in 2026
On January 19, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck northern Pakistan, impacting Hunza, Ghizer, and other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. This quake caused landslides, damaged homes, and blocked roads in mountainous zones. One person lost their life, and several others sustained injuries. Chipurson Valley also suffered serious damage, including to houses and local infrastructure. The resulting road closures complicated access to affected settlements as authorities and aid organizations responded to regional needs.
Northern Pakistan lies within a highly active seismic belt driven by tectonic plate movements. Earthquakes frequently impact Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and neighboring regions of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. The August 13 event again concentrated its strongest effects in Upper Hunza, where landslides disrupted road access but resulted in no reported fatalities. Official reports indicate two significant earthquakes near Sost within four hours, with the first causing more intense shaking in surrounding communities.