The seismically active region of Balochistan experienced another tremor early Wednesday. A mild earthquake shook the Sibi district, according to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC).
The quake registered a magnitude of 4.0 and occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres. Seismologists located its epicentre approximately 50 kilometres southwest of Sibi city.
Officials reported no immediate casualties or structural damage from the event. Authorities continue to monitor the situation in the affected area. This tremor follows another recent earthquake near Sibi. On November 26, a magnitude 3.1 quake struck about 60 kilometres northeast of the city.
Parts of Balochistan also experienced tremors earlier in November. On November 8, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake shook the Ziarat region and surrounding areas, with its epicentre 67 kilometres northeast of Quetta. No damage was reported from that event either.
Read: Magnitude 5.2 Earthquake Strikes Pakistan, Felt Across the Region
Balochistan province lies on a major seismic hotspot where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates converge. This geological setting makes it prone to frequent earthquakes.
The region has a history of devastating seismic events:
- 2008 Ziarat Earthquake: A major quake struck Ziarat, killing over 200 people, injuring 500, and flattening entire villages. It displaced more than 15,000 residents.
- 1935 Quetta Earthquake: One of the deadliest in South Asian history, claiming an estimated 30,000 lives.
- 2005 Northern Pakistan Earthquake: A catastrophic event that resulted in approximately 73,000 fatalities across the region.
As Pakistan’s largest but most sparsely populated province, Balochistan poses significant challenges for emergency response and relief operations following major disasters.
The recent activity also follows significant earthquakes in neighboring Afghanistan. A 6.3-magnitude quake near Mazar-e-Sharif in early November caused casualties, months after a major tremor in August 2025 claimed over 2,200 lives.
