September 12, 1981 Earthquake: Gilgit, Pakistan
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Gilgit, Pakistan on September 12, 1981 at 07:15:54 UTC, 33 km below the surface. It killed 220 people.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- September 12, 1981
- Time
- 07:15:54 UTC
- Place
- Gilgit, Pakistan
- Magnitude
- 5.9 (Ms)
- Focal depth
- 33 km (21 mi)
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 35.693° N, 73.594° E
- Country
- Pakistan
The toll
- Deaths
- 220
- Injuries
- 2,500
- Damage
- $5 million
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
At least 220 people killed, 2,500 injured, and extensive damage and landslides in the Gilgit area. Unconfirmed reports of surface faulting. Felt in the Srinagar area. Also felt at Rawalpindi and Peshawar, Pakistan. (reference #1053)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- October 8, 2005, Muzaffarabad, Uri, Anantnag, Baramula, Pakistan
- December 28, 1974, Balakot, Patan, Pakistan
- May 30, 1885, Srinagar, Kashmir, India
- June 26, 1828, Kashmir, India
- September 3, 1972, Tangir, Gupis, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Pakistan
- February 14, 2004, Balakot, Batgram, Mansehra, Pakistan
- November 20, 2002, Dashkin, Doian, Mushkin, Pakistan
- November 1, 2002, Gilgit, Pakistan
- July 8, 1909, Pakistan
- January 19, 2026, Barishal, Pakistan
- October 1, 2016, Mansehra, Naran, Pakistan
- August 20, 2024, Kupwara, Kashmir, India
- February 26, 2015, Battagram, Pakistan
- April 4, 2006, Batgram, Pakistan
- March 25, 1990, Pamir Mountains, Tajikistan
More
Significant earthquakes of 1981The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1981Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 4929.