KHUZDAR, Pakistan / AsiaWire.IO / – The German Research Centre for Geosciences reported that a magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Saturday, October 17, with its epicentre close to the city of Khuzdar. The tremor occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres, or 6 miles, and such shallow quakes tend to cause more intense ground shaking compared to deeper ones of similar magnitude. Early reports did not include information about casualties or damage.
Based in Potsdam, Germany, the GFZ provides rapid assessments of major earthquakes worldwide. Its initial figures for magnitude and depth are subject to updates as more seismic data is analyzed. The data from Saturday served as the primary source for initial reports on the event. Khuzdar is situated in central Balochistan, which is Pakistan’s largest province by area. Authorities had not released detailed information regarding the quake’s impact in early reports.
Balochistan lies within a seismically active zone along the southern boundary of the Eurasian plate. The Indian plate converges obliquely with the Eurasian plate along Pakistan’s western edge. The region is crossed by major fault systems such as the Chaman Fault, a left-lateral strike-slip fault, and the Sulaiman fold and thrust belt. Tension along these faults has historically caused some of the deadliest earthquakes in Pakistan’s history.
Fault systems contribute to seismic vulnerability in Balochistan
The 1935 Quetta earthquake, measuring 7.7, resulted in an estimated 30,000 to 60,000 deaths. A decade later, a magnitude 8.1 quake off the Makran coast triggered a tsunami that claimed approximately 4,000 lives. In 2008, the Ziarat earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.4, caused 215 fatalities. Additionally, in 2013, a magnitude 7.7 quake centered in Awaran District near Khuzdar resulted in 825 deaths and roughly 700 injuries.
On October 7, 2021, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Harnai District, causing at least 42 deaths, many of whom were women and children. The quake injured about 300 people and destroyed nearly 10,000 mud homes. Satellite imagery revealed over 100 landslides following the tremor, which blocked roads and hampered rescue efforts.
Recent seismic activity emphasizes ongoing earthquake risks
In 2026, Pakistan experienced multiple significant tremors. A magnitude 5.4 quake struck Gilgit-Baltistan near Sost in August, while a magnitude 6.2 earthquake centered in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush impacted Pakistan in April. Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are positioned on the Eurasian plate, whereas Sindh and Punjab lie on the Indian plate, exposing the country to earthquakes originating from the northern mountains to the southwestern coast.
Moderate earthquakes, within the 5 to 6 magnitude range, can cause damage to weaker structures near the epicenter. Shallow events are often followed by aftershocks, as seen after the 2021 Harnai quake, which experienced aftershocks of magnitude 4.6 and 4.5. Initial reports from Saturday’s earthquake did not mention any aftershocks. Further details are anticipated as local authorities evaluate the situation around Khuzdar.