A 4.8-magnitude earthquake shook parts of Balochistan on Wednesday, with tremors felt in the districts of Zhob and Chaman. The seismic event was recorded at a depth of 15 kilometres, with its epicenter located 122 kilometres northeast of Zhob, the National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC), which operates under the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
There have been no immediate reports of casualties or structural damage following the quake. This incident recalls a significant earthquake on October 7, 2021, when a 5.9-magnitude tremor struck near Harnai at a similar depth of 15 kilometres. That quake affected Zhob and Chaman among other districts, resulting in at least 20 fatalities and over 300 injuries. The majority of casualties occurred in Harnai, where numerous buildings collapsed and more than 70 houses sustained damage. Rescue operations and military deployments were promptly initiated in the aftermath, as aftershocks continued for several days.
In a related event, Chaman experienced another strong quake in March 2024, measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale. This earthquake struck at approximately 5:35 am, with its epicenter about 150 kilometres southwest of Quetta and a depth of 35 kilometres. Tremors from this event were also felt in Qila Abdullah, Noshki, Pishin, Dalbandin, Chagai, and Quetta, highlighting the region’s seismic vulnerability.
