5.9-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Balochistan Near Khuzdar

A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck near Khuzdar in Pakistan's Balochistan province on Saturday morning. The Pakistan Meteorological Department placed the epicentre 48 kilometres northwest of Khuzdar at a depth of 25 kilometres. Tremors were also felt in Kalat and Surab. Residents left their homes and gathered in open spaces.

District administration officials said initial checks found no loss of life or property. Relevant institutions were placed on alert and the situation continues to be monitored. Authorities asked the public to rely only on official information. Different agencies reported slightly varying magnitudes, with some listing 5.6 to 5.8, but all confirmed a moderate event in the same area.

Pakistan sits at the collision of the Indian, Eurasian and Arabian tectonic plates, which creates five seismic zones. Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan lie near major fault lines and experience frequent tremors. The 2005 Kashmir earthquake, which killed more than 74,000 people, remains the country's deadliest modern event. Smaller quakes, such as a magnitude 4.0 near Dalbandin in August, are recorded regularly.

No aftershock sequence or damage assessment beyond the initial statement has been released. The shallow depth of the event meant shaking was widely felt even though the epicentre was not in a dense urban centre. Officials have not announced any change in alert status for the broader region.