On Wednesday, an earthquake of magnitude 5.6 hit Afghanistan at 4:43 AM IST in the Hindu Kush region. The quake originated at a depth of 121 km (75 miles), with the epicentre located 164 km east of Baglan, a city with a population of about 108,000. According to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), the first reported earthquake was of magnitude 6.4 but was later revised to 5.6.

Shockwaves were felt in Delhi NCR, according to residents. No immediate casualties or structural damages have been reported, but local authorities are closely monitoring the situation for any further updates.

Earthquake Risk in Afghanistan

The Hindu Kush mountain range stretches across the Northeast side of Afghanistan and is a seismically active zone. Earthquakes are frequent in the region due to the complex tectonic settings underneath the surface of the Earth. Afghanistan lies along the collision zone between the Indian and the Eurasian plate, which makes it seismically active. 

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) noted that frequent earthquakes have impacted communities that are already weakened because of decades of conflict and chronic underdevelopment. According to the international non-government organisation Red Cross, powerful earthquakes are almost annual occurrences in Afghanistan, particularly in the geographically volatile areas of the Hindukush. The western province of Herat also sits on a significant tectonic fault line, which adds to the country’s systemic risk profile.