October 28, 2008 Earthquake: Quetta, Pakistan
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Quetta, Pakistan on October 28, 2008 at 23:09:57 UTC, 15 km below the surface. It killed 215 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
- October 28, 2008
- Time
- 23:09:57 UTC
- Place
- Quetta, Pakistan
- Magnitude
- 6.4 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 15 km (9 mi)
- Intensity
- 6 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 30.639° N, 67.351° E
- Country
- Pakistan
The toll
- Deaths
- 215
- Injuries
- 320
- Damage
- Extreme (about $25 million or more)
- Houses destroyed
- 3,487
- Houses damaged
- 3,487; 4,125 with its tsunami and other effects
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.
One hundred sixty-six people killed, 370 injured and several villages destroyed in Balochistan. Several villages destroyed by landslides in the Ziarat area. A total of 3,487 homes destroyed and an additional 4,125 homes damaged in the Harnai area, Pishin and Ziarat. Felt (VI) at Quetta. Felt strongly in Bolan, Kalat and Qila Saifullah; and at Loralai, Mach, Mastung, Muslimbagh, and Surab. Felt (III) at Kandahar, Afghanistan. (reference #1053)
Earthquake in Balochistan Province claimed more than 215 lives and 320 injuries [...] PRCS assessment teams have reported more than 200 deaths and 300 injuries in more than 11 villages of district Zairat. In addition to above causalities it is reported that number of houses damaged in Zairat are 2,500; thereby, displacing about 16,000 people. In Pashin, the Balochistan Branch assessment team has reported four deaths with 20 injured. Number of damaged houses is 1,500, displacing a population of 10,500. In chaman, 4 deaths have been confirmed. (reference #12857)
Note: effects likely combined with earthquake in region from 29 Oct 2008.
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- May 30, 1935, Quetta, Pakistan
- October 20, 1909, Pakistan
- February 27, 1997, Harnai-Sibi, 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
- October 29, 2008, Ziarat, Pakistan
- November 12, 2010, Quetta, Pakistan
- August 6, 1983, Ziarat, Pakistan
- March 2, 2005, Quetta, Pakistan
- August 27, 1931, Mach,baluchistan, Pakistan
- December 20, 1892, Chaman,baluchistan, Pakistan
More
Significant earthquakes of 2008The 2000sEvery quake the USGS located in 2008Recent 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 8177.