KHUZDAR, Pakistan / AsiaWire.IO / – On Saturday, October 17, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake occurred close to Khuzdar in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, as reported by the German Research Centre for Geosciences. The GFZ noted that the tremor happened at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres, approximately 6 miles. Shallow seismic events often cause more intense shaking at the surface compared to deeper ones of similar magnitude. No casualties or damages were initially reported. Khuzdar is situated in the central region of the province.
The earthquake’s magnitude and depth figures were provided by the GFZ through its global earthquake monitoring service. This Potsdam-based institution delivers rapid assessments for major seismic events worldwide. These early estimates may be revised as additional seismic data becomes available. The initial reports on Saturday’s tremor relied on the GFZ’s data, with no further details about the impact in Khuzdar or neighboring districts released at that time.
Balochistan is part of a seismically active zone on the southern boundary of the Eurasian plate. The Indian and Eurasian plates converge at an oblique angle along Pakistan’s western border. Fault systems, including the Chaman Fault and the Sulaiman fold and thrust belt, traverse the region. Movements along these faults have caused numerous destructive earthquakes over the past century, and Pakistan’s western provinces frequently experience moderate tremors as a result.
Balochistan Has a History of Devastating Earthquakes
The 1935 Quetta earthquake, registering a magnitude of 7.7, resulted in the deaths of between 30,000 and 60,000 people. In 1945, a magnitude 8.1 quake off the Makran coast triggered a tsunami that claimed approximately 4,000 lives. The 2008 Ziarat District earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.4, caused 215 fatalities. In September 2013, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Awaran District, adjacent to Khuzdar, led to 825 deaths and injured around 700 individuals.
More recently, on October 7, 2021, a magnitude 5.9 quake struck Harnai District. Occurring early in the morning while many residents slept, it resulted in at least 42 fatalities. The event injured roughly 300 people and destroyed approximately 10,000 mud homes across Harnai and Shahrag. Landslides impeded roads and hampered rescue efforts, overwhelming hospitals and prompting some injured individuals to be airlifted to Quetta.
Pakistan Experiences Multiple Seismic Events in 2026
Saturday’s tremor is part of a series of seismic activities across Pakistan during this year. In August, a quake near Gilgit-Baltistan close to Sost was recorded. Additionally, in April, Pakistan experienced a magnitude 6.2 earthquake originating in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region. Since Pakistan straddles the boundary where the Indian and Eurasian plates meet beneath the country, seismic hazards are a constant concern from the northern mountains to the southwestern coast.
Earthquakes of this magnitude can often cause damage to less resilient structures near the epicenter, especially where construction standards are inadequate. Aftershocks tend to follow shallow earthquakes in this region, as seen after the 2021 Harnai quake, which was succeeded by two aftershocks of magnitude 4.6 and 4.5. Initial reports from Saturday’s event did not mention any aftershocks, but further updates are anticipated as local authorities evaluate conditions around Khuzdar.