A moderate earthquake struck the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan early Wednesday morning, with tremors felt across parts of the seismically active zone.
According to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), the earthquake measured 5.9 on the Richter scale and occurred at 4.43 am IST, with its epicentre located at latitude 35.83 N and longitude 70.60 E.
The NCS also reported that the quake struck at a depth of 75 kilometres beneath the Earth's surface.
While there were no immediate reports of casualties or large-scale damage, experts remain concerned about the impact on communities already vulnerable due to ongoing humanitarian challenges.
Afghanistan is one of the most disaster-prone countries in South Asia. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has repeatedly warned that Afghanistan remains highly exposed to natural hazards such as floods, landslides, and earthquakes.
According to UNOCHA, frequent seismic activity continues to damage regions with weak infrastructure, saying, “These frequent earthquakes in Afghanistan cause damage to vulnerable communities, which are already grappling with decades of conflict and under-development and have left them with little resilience to cope with multiple simultaneous shocks.”
Afghanistan's susceptibility to earthquakes stems from its position on several active fault lines, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.
According to the Red Cross, the Hindu Kush mountain range, where the latest quake occurred, is especially active and experiences earthquakes on a near-annual basis. A significant fault line also runs through Herat province, further raising the risk of future tremors.
According to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), the earthquake measured 5.9 on the Richter scale and occurred at 4.43 am IST, with its epicentre located at latitude 35.83 N and longitude 70.60 E.
EQ of M: 5.9, On: 16/04/2025 04:43:58 IST, Lat: 35.83 N, Long: 70.60 E, Depth: 75 Km, Location: Hindu Kush, Afghanistan.
— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) April 15, 2025
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The NCS also reported that the quake struck at a depth of 75 kilometres beneath the Earth's surface.
While there were no immediate reports of casualties or large-scale damage, experts remain concerned about the impact on communities already vulnerable due to ongoing humanitarian challenges.
Afghanistan is one of the most disaster-prone countries in South Asia. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has repeatedly warned that Afghanistan remains highly exposed to natural hazards such as floods, landslides, and earthquakes.
According to UNOCHA, frequent seismic activity continues to damage regions with weak infrastructure, saying, “These frequent earthquakes in Afghanistan cause damage to vulnerable communities, which are already grappling with decades of conflict and under-development and have left them with little resilience to cope with multiple simultaneous shocks.”
Afghanistan's susceptibility to earthquakes stems from its position on several active fault lines, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.
According to the Red Cross, the Hindu Kush mountain range, where the latest quake occurred, is especially active and experiences earthquakes on a near-annual basis. A significant fault line also runs through Herat province, further raising the risk of future tremors.
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