Earthquake Hits Balochistan: Magnitude 5.6 Tremor Strikes Near Khuzdar, Residents Flee Homes

Khuzdar, Pakistan— A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck near Khuzdar in Balochistan province on Friday, sending residents running from homes and shops.

The quake was recorded by the German Research Centre for Geosciences. It hit at shallow depth in the early afternoon local time. The epicenter was located in a sparsely populated area north of Khuzdar city.

Shaking was felt across a wide radius. Reports came in from Kalat, Wadh and parts of Khuzdar district. People gathered in open areas after the tremor. No immediate reports of major building collapse were received.

"We felt a strong jolt, walls cracked, then everyone rushed outside," a shopkeeper in Khuzdar said. "It lasted a few seconds but it was frightening. Aftershocks followed."

Balochistan's disaster management authority said teams were dispatched to check for damage. Officials in Khuzdar confirmed minor cracks in some mud-brick houses. Power lines were inspected for faults.

Pakistan sits on a major fault line and Balochistan has a history of deadly quakes. The province's remote terrain often slows assessment. Communications in some villages remain limited.

The GFZ initially measured the quake at 5.6, with a depth of around 10 kilometers. Pakistani meteorological officials are conducting their own review. No tsunami warning was issued.

Hospitals in Khuzdar were placed on alert. District administration asked residents to avoid damaged structures and report injuries.

Assessment teams are still in the field. The full extent of damage remains unclear.