February 27, 1997 Earthquake: Harnai-Sibi, Quetta, Pakistan
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Harnai-Sibi, Quetta, Pakistan on February 27, 1997 at 21:08:02 UTC, 33 km below the surface. It killed 60 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
- February 27, 1997
- Time
- 21:08:02 UTC
- Place
- Harnai-Sibi, Quetta, Pakistan
- Magnitude
- 7.1 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 33 km (21 mi)
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 29.976° N, 68.208° E
- Country
- Pakistan
The toll
- Deaths
- 60
- Injuries
- Many (about 101 to 1,000)
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
- Houses destroyed
- 500
- Houses damaged
- 500
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 57 people killed, hundreds injured, thousands homeless, more than 500 houses damaged or destroyed and hundreds of livestock killed in the Harnai-Sibi area. Roads and railroads in the area blocked by landslides. Three people killed and several injured in the Quetta area. Felt throughout much of central Baluchistan. (reference #1053)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- May 30, 1935, Quetta, Pakistan
- October 20, 1909, Pakistan
- October 28, 2008, Quetta, Pakistan
- October 6, 2021, Balochistan Province, Pakistan
- February 18, 1955, Quetta, Pakistan
- December 12, 1981, Central, Pakistan
- August 28, 1992, Kalat, Pakistan
- May 8, 2004, Quetta, Pakistan
- March 16, 1978, Quetta, Nushki, Pakistan
- March 2, 2005, Quetta, Pakistan
- August 6, 1983, Ziarat, Pakistan
- August 27, 1931, Mach,baluchistan, Pakistan
- October 29, 2008, Ziarat, Pakistan
- November 12, 2010, Quetta, Pakistan
- May 15, 1986, Barkham, Matakari, Hamtarot, Pakistan
More
Significant earthquakes of 1997The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1997Recent 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 5449.