GILGIT-BALTISTAN / RankWire.AI / – Early Thursday morning, northeastern Pakistan experienced a magnitude 5.4 earthquake
that impacted parts of Gilgit-Baltistan close to the country’s northern border. Pakistan’s official seismic records registered this incident at magnitude 5.3. The tremor struck at 5:35 a.m. local time on August 13, with its epicenter located 27 kilometers northwest of Sost, near the Khunjerab region. The Pakistan Meteorological Department measured the earthquake’s depth at 15 kilometers.
In the wake of the tremors, intensified shaking was felt in Hunza and Nagar districts, with Chipurson Valley in Upper Hunza being among the most affected areas. Situated near Pakistan’s borders with China and Afghanistan, this mountainous valley experienced strong ground movement that prompted residents in several communities to evacuate their homes. Subsequent landslides and rockfalls were reported in parts of the valley, with one blocking the Chipurson Valley road near Ramanji, disrupting access to remote high-altitude settlements.
Authorities on the ground confirmed that no casualties had been reported following the initial quake. Initial assessments indicated no confirmed structural damages. Nonetheless, the seismic activity caused substantial ground shifts in rugged terrain, leading to falling rocks that impacted local roads. The narrow routes through Chipurson Valley traverse challenging mountain terrain. The Gilgit-Baltistan administration is actively monitoring the affected communities and assessing the immediate impact on infrastructure and settlements impacted by the tremors and related landslides.
Landfalls and Road Blockages in Upper Hunza
The quake’s epicenter was situated near Sost, a northern Pakistani town along the Karakoram Highway corridor. Sost functions as a hub for communities in Upper Hunza and is located south of the Khunjerab Pass, which connects Pakistan to China’s Xinjiang region through one of the world’s highest international crossings. The earthquake, which occurred in the broader northwestern Kashmir seismic zone according to official data, had a shallow depth that resulted in noticeable shaking across nearby mountain communities in northeastern Pakistan.
Later Thursday morning, a second earthquake struck the same general region. Official seismic data recorded this second event at 9:24 a.m. local time, measuring magnitude 4.7 at a depth of 19 kilometers. Its epicenter was located 28 kilometers west-northwest of Sost, close to the site of the initial quake. These two tremors brought renewed seismic activity to an area that experienced a damaging earthquake earlier in the year.
Repeated Seismic Events Mark the Region in 2026
On January 19, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck northern Pakistan, affecting areas including Hunza and Ghizer within Gilgit-Baltistan. That quake caused landslides, destruction of homes, and road blockages across mountainous regions. One individual lost their life, and several others sustained injuries during the January event. Chipurson Valley also suffered extensive damage, impacting residences and local infrastructure, while road closures complicated access to affected settlements as authorities and aid organizations responded to the region’s needs.
Northern Pakistan’s seismic activity is driven by the movement of major tectonic plates, making the area prone to frequent earthquakes. Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and neighboring regions of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan are regularly affected. The August 13 quake mainly caused its strongest effects in Upper Hunza, where landslides impeded road access but no fatalities were reported. Official records indicate two significant earthquakes near Sost within a four-hour span, with the first registering stronger shaking across the surrounding communities.