Rescue and recovery efforts were severely hampered by insurgents who attacked military troops sent to distribute aid.

Although seismically active, this portion of the Eurasia plate boundary region has not experienced large damaging earthquakes in recent history.

[1] The earthquake was recorded by the International Seismological Centre with a moment magnitude of 7.8, and estimated the hypocenter's depth at 12.8 km (8.0 mi).

The location and mechanism of the earthquake are consistent with rupture within the Eurasia plate above the Makran Trench subduction zone.

[6] A tsunami, likely triggered by an undersea landslide located 60–70 km (37–43 mi) off the coast of Jiwani, was recorded by tide gauges in countries surrounding the Arabian Sea.

[9] Columbia University seismologist John Armbruster attributed the occurrence with liquefaction of compacted and pressurised sediments beneath the seabed.

[11] Meanwhile, Gary Gibson of the University of Melbourne said the island likely formed from a mud volcano after methane gas pushed the overlying material upwards.

[23] Terrified people evacuated a hospital in the district and in Quetta, workers fled a local parliament building.

Within a day, some severely injured people were flown to Karachi for medical attention while others received assistance in nearby districts.

[25] Rescue efforts were further challenged when attacks from an alleged rebel group linked with anti-government campaigns targeted military convoys transporting supplies.

[26] On 26 September, two rockets were fired at a helicopter carrying the National Disaster Management Authority chairman, other officials and media crew.

However, the provincial chief minister, Abdul Malik Baloch, appealed to the federal government to allow foreign aid into the province.

A minister spokesperson blamed separatists for hampering aid efforts and said they should reduce their forces during times of crisis.

Several international organisations including Doctors Without Borders said the central government did not give them permission to assist despite the group's readiness.

[30] In December 2018, the Pakistan army completed the construction of 75 new homes in a new village called Jebri, located in Arawan's Mashkai division.