KHUZDAR, Pakistan / AsiaWire.IO / – In Pakistan’s Balochistan province, near Khuzdar, a seismic event measuring magnitude 5.6 occurred on Saturday, October 17, as reported by the German Research Centre for Geosciences. The GFZ indicated that the quake originated at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres, approximately 6 miles. Such shallow earthquakes tend to generate more intense shaking at the surface compared to deeper ones of similar magnitude. Initial reports have not indicated any casualties or damage. Khuzdar is situated in the central part of the province.
The magnitude and depth data were provided by the GFZ through its global earthquake monitoring platform. This Potsdam-based institute delivers rapid assessments of significant seismic occurrences worldwide. These preliminary figures can be updated as additional seismic information becomes available. The initial reports on Saturday’s tremor were based on the GFZ’s estimates, with no further details on the impact in Khuzdar and neighboring districts released at that time.
Balochistan is located within a seismically active zone along the southern border of the Eurasian plate. The Indian and Eurasian plates converge at an oblique angle along Pakistan’s western boundary. This region is traversed by fault systems such as the Chaman Fault and the Sulaiman fold and thrust belt. Tectonic movements along these structures have caused numerous destructive earthquakes over the past century, leading to regular moderate tremors in Pakistan’s western provinces.
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, an 8.1 magnitude quake off the Makran coast triggered a tsunami, causing approximately 4,000 fatalities. The 2008 Ziarat District earthquake, measuring 6.4, claimed 215 lives. In September 2013, a magnitude 7.7 quake in Awaran District, bordering Khuzdar, led to 825 deaths and injuries to around 700 individuals.
More recently, on October 7, 2021, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Harnai District. Hitting during the early morning hours while many residents were asleep, it resulted in at least 42 fatalities. The tremor also injured roughly 300 people and destroyed about 10,000 mud homes across Harnai and the Shahrag area. Landslides impeded roads, hindering rescue efforts. Hospitals were overwhelmed, and some injured individuals were airlifted to Quetta.
Multiple Seismic Events Rock Pakistan in 2026
The earthquake on Saturday is part of a series of seismic activities across Pakistan this year. In August, a quake struck Gilgit-Baltistan near Sost. In April, Pakistan experienced a magnitude 6.2 earthquake centered in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region. Situated along the boundary where the Indian and Eurasian plates meet beneath the country, Pakistan is prone to frequent earthquakes, from the northern mountain ranges to the southwestern coastline.
Moderate seismic events of this magnitude can damage weaker structures near the epicenter, especially where construction standards are subpar. Aftershocks are common following shallow earthquakes in this region. The 2021 Harnai quake, for example, was followed by two aftershocks measuring 4.6 and 4.5. Initial reports regarding Saturday’s earthquake have not yet detailed any aftershocks, but additional information is anticipated as local authorities evaluate the situation around Khuzdar.