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 indicated that the quake was shallow, occurring at a depth of 10 kilometres, roughly 6 miles. Shallow seismic events tend to generate 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 GFZ provided the magnitude and depth figures through its global earthquake monitoring platform. This Potsdam-based institution offers rapid assessments for major seismic activities worldwide. Such preliminary data can be revised as additional seismic information becomes available. The initial reports on Saturday’s tremor relied solely on the GFZ’s estimate, and detailed information regarding the quake’s impact on Khuzdar and adjacent districts has not yet been released.
Balochistan is part of a seismically active zone located along the southern edge of the Eurasian plate. The convergence of the Indian and Eurasian plates occurs obliquely along Pakistan’s western border. Fault systems, including the Chaman Fault and the Sulaiman fold and thrust belt, traverse this region. Movements along these fault lines have resulted in several destructive earthquakes over the last century, and Pakistan’s western provinces frequently experience moderate tremors as a consequence.
Long History of Deadly Quakes in Balochistan
The devastating 1935 Quetta earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.7, resulted in the deaths of between 30,000 and 60,000 individuals. An 8.1 magnitude quake off the Makran coast in 1945 triggered a tsunami that claimed approximately 4,000 lives. In 2008, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake in Ziarat District caused 215 fatalities. More recently, in September 2013, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Awaran District, bordering Khuzdar, killing 825 people and injuring around 700.
On October 7, 2021, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake hit Harnai District, striking in the early morning hours when many residents were sleeping. The event resulted in at least 42 deaths, with about 300 injuries and the destruction of approximately 10,000 mud homes in Harnai and the Shahrag area. Landslides caused road blockages, hampering rescue efforts, while hospitals faced overwhelming patient loads. Some injured individuals were airlifted to Quetta for treatment.
Pakistan Experiences Multiple Seismic Events in 2026
The earthquake on Saturday adds to the series of seismic activities recorded across Pakistan this year. In August, a quake was felt near Sost in Gilgit-Baltistan. Earlier in April, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake centered in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region impacted the country. Due to the boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plates running beneath Pakistan, the nation faces frequent earthquakes, from the northern mountains to the southwestern coast.
Moderate earthquakes of this size can cause damage to weaker structures near the epicenter, especially where construction standards are subpar. Aftershocks are common following shallow seismic events in the region. The 2021 Harnai quake was succeeded by two aftershocks measuring 4.6 and 4.5. Initial reports regarding Saturday’s tremor did not specify any aftershocks, but further details are anticipated as local authorities evaluate the situation around Khuzdar.