GILGIT-BALTISTAN / RankWire.AI / – Early Thursday morning, northeastern Pakistan experienced a magnitude 5.4 earthquake that caused noticeable tremors across parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. The Pakistan’s official seismic record indicated a magnitude of 5.3. The tremor struck at 5:35 a.m. local time on August 13, with the epicenter situated roughly 27 kilometers northwest of Sost, in the vicinity of the Khunjerab area. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the quake’s depth was recorded at 15 kilometers. Residents in numerous northern communities reported feeling the ground shake during the early hours.
The seismic activity impacted districts including Hunza and Nagar, with Chipurson Valley in Upper Hunza experiencing some of the most evident ground effects. Communities surrounded by steep mountain slopes evacuated their homes as the tremors passed through. In some parts of the valley, landslides and falling rocks followed the shaking, with a rockfall blocking the Chipurson Valley road near Ramanji and disrupting local access. This route connects remote settlements in a region where mountain roads are essential for linking villages with larger urban centers.
Initial assessments by authorities confirmed that there were no fatalities or injuries resulting from the earthquake. No confirmed structural damage was reported at that stage. The primary impacts on local infrastructure involved rockfalls and landslides. The Gilgit-Baltistan administration monitored the affected areas and road conditions following the tremors. Officials also inspected access to settlements where debris had reached mountain routes. The earthquake marked another significant seismic event in northern Pakistan, an area that has experienced multiple tremors during 2026.
Rockfalls Block Roads in Upper Hunza
The earthquake’s epicenter was located close to Sost, a town on the Karakoram Highway corridor in northern Pakistan. Sost, situated south of the Khunjerab Pass, serves communities across Upper Hunza. The Khunjerab route connects Pakistan with China’s Xinjiang region via a high-altitude border crossing. The region’s rugged mountain terrain makes road access particularly vulnerable to rockfalls and slope failures. The tremors experienced on Thursday produced notable shaking throughout this remote area, with effects mostly concentrated near the epicenter.
Later Thursday morning, a second earthquake struck the same general area. Seismic data confirmed this tremor occurred at 9:24 a.m. local time, with a magnitude of 4.7 and a depth of 19 kilometers. Its epicenter was approximately 28 kilometers west-northwest of Sost, close to the initial quake. Both events occurred within about four hours, extending a period of seismic activity affecting Upper Hunza and neighboring districts.
Repeated Seismic Incidents in Northern Pakistan
Earlier this year, the region also endured a more powerful earthquake. On January 19, a magnitude 5.8 quake impacted areas including Hunza, Ghizer, and other parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. This event caused landslides, damaged homes, and obstructed roads across several mountain communities. One person lost their life, and multiple others sustained injuries. Chipurson Valley suffered damage to homes and infrastructure, with road closures complicating access between remote settlements following the tremor.
The northern mountain belt of Pakistan is part of a highly active seismic zone shaped by significant tectonic plate movements. Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and neighboring regions in northern Pakistan and Afghanistan frequently experience earthquakes. The event on August 13 again centered near Sost, bringing intense shaking to communities in Upper Hunza. Although landslides and rockfalls disrupted road connectivity, authorities confirmed no casualties from the main quake. Official records also identified a second notable tremor near Sost later that same morning.