Magnitude 4.3 earthquake — 70 km NNW of Barishal, Pakistan

A moderate earthquake has struck northern Pakistan in the early hours of Thursday morning, centred about 70 kilometres north-northwest of Barishal.

The tremor, measuring magnitude 4.3, occurred at roughly half past eight local time. The United States Geological Survey reports the quake's epicentre was at a depth of nearly 58 kilometres — fairly deep, which typically means the shaking at the surface is less severe than it would be from a shallower event of the same strength.

What a 4.3 magnitude feels like

An earthquake of this size is generally felt quite noticeably by people indoors, particularly on upper floors. Windows and dishes may rattle, hanging objects swing, and some people might be woken from sleep. It's the sort of tremor that gets your attention without usually causing significant damage to well-built structures, though older or poorly constructed buildings can sometimes suffer minor cracks.

The depth of this particular quake — nearly 60 kilometres down — would have softened its impact at ground level. People closer to the epicentre would likely have felt a rolling motion lasting several seconds, whilst those further away might have noticed just a brief wobble or missed it entirely if they were busy with morning tasks.

Remote mountain region

The affected area lies in the mountainous terrain of northern Pakistan, a region where the great tectonic plates that shape our planet are constantly jostling for position. This part of the world sits where the Indian plate pushes northward into the Eurasian plate, creating the Himalayas and Karakoram ranges — and, inevitably, regular seismic activity.

Whilst the location is fairly remote, there are scattered communities throughout these valleys and mountainsides. Details about whether anyone felt the quake strongly, or whether there's been any damage, are not yet known.

The earthquake occurred roughly two and a half hours ago, so information is still coming in. Given the magnitude and depth, significant damage would be unlikely, but in mountainous areas there's always the possibility of rockfalls or landslides, particularly if recent weather has left slopes unstable.

Your experiences

Did you feel this one, or do you know someone in northern Pakistan who might have? Perhaps you've experienced something similar during travels, or remember earthquakes from years past? Do share your stories in the comments below — we'd love to hear from you.