KHUZDAR, Pakistan / AsiaWire.IO / – On Saturday, a magnitude 5.6 tremor struck close to Khuzdar in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences. The GFZ reported that the quake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres, approximately 6 miles. Shallow seismic events tend to cause more intense shaking at the surface compared to deeper ones of similar magnitude. At this stage, there have been no reports of casualties or damage. Khuzdar is situated in the central region of the province.
The magnitude and depth figures were provided by the GFZ through its global earthquake monitoring service. This Potsdam-based centre offers rapid estimates for major seismic events worldwide. These initial assessments are subject to revision as additional seismic data becomes available. The early reports on Saturday’s earthquake were based on the GFZ estimate. No detailed information about the quake’s impact in Khuzdar or surrounding districts has been released yet.
Balochistan lies within a seismically active zone along the southern boundary of the Eurasian plate. The Indian and Eurasian plates converge at an oblique angle along Pakistan’s western edge. Fault systems such as the Chaman Fault and the Sulaiman fold and thrust belt traverse this area. Movements along these structures have caused numerous destructive earthquakes over the last century. As a result, Pakistan’s western provinces frequently experience moderate tremors.
Balochistan’s History of Devastating Earthquakes
The 1935 Quetta earthquake, with 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, claiming approximately 4,000 lives. The 2008 event in Ziarat District, measuring 6.4, caused 215 fatalities. Additionally, the September 2013 quake in Awaran District—bordering Khuzdar—had a magnitude of 7.7 and resulted in 825 deaths and around 700 injuries.
More recently, Harnai District experienced a magnitude 5.9 earthquake on October 7, 2021. The early-morning tremor caught many residents asleep and led to at least 42 deaths. About 300 individuals were injured, and roughly 10,000 mud homes were destroyed across Harnai and the Shahrag region. Landslides obstructed roads, complicating rescue efforts. Hospitals were overwhelmed, and some injured victims were airlifted to Quetta.
Pakistan Sees Multiple Seismic Events in 2026
Saturday’s earthquake is part of a series of seismic activities across Pakistan this year. In August, a quake struck Gilgit-Baltistan near Sost. Earlier in April, Pakistan experienced a magnitude 6.2 quake centered in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region. The country’s location spans the boundary where the Indian and Eurasian plates meet underground. This positioning makes earthquakes a recurring threat from the northern mountains to the southwestern coast.
Moderate seismic events of this magnitude can cause damage to weaker structures near the epicentre, especially where construction standards are low. Aftershocks are common following shallow earthquakes in this region. The 2021 Harnai quake, for instance, was followed by two aftershocks measuring 4.6 and 4.5. Initial reports from Saturday’s tremor did not mention any aftershocks. Authorities are expected to release further details as they evaluate conditions around Khuzdar.