Earthquake Today: An earthquake of magnitude 4.1 struck Afghanistan on Friday, a statement by the National Center for Seismology (NCS) said. The earthquake occurred
at a shallow depth of 10km, making it susceptible to aftershocks. Shallow earthquakes are considered more dangerous than earthquakes that occur at depth. "EQ of M: 4.1, On: 19/12/2025 00:14:48 IST, Lat: 36.76 N, Long: 72.08 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Afghanistan," the NCS posted on X. So far, there are no immediate reports of casualties or any damage to infrastructure.
Earlier on December 15, another earthquake of magnitude 4.0 had struck the region at a depth of 22km. The recent tremors follow a powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck northern Afghanistan on November 4, killing at least 27 people. Earlier in September this year, back-to-back tremors following a 6.0 quake near Jalalabad had caused major damage in the country.
Why are Shallow Earthquakes Considered More Dangerous?
The Friday earthquake was shallow, as it occurred at a depth of 10 km. This is because the seismic waves from shallow earthquakes have a shorter distance to travel to the surface, resulting in stronger ground shaking and potentially more damage to structures and greater casualties.
Why Afghanistan Is Prone To Earthquakes
Afghanistan is part of a highly seismically active zone as it lies along the collision zone between the Indian and the Eurasian tectonic plates. These plates collide often, leading to significant tectonic activity in the region.
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According to a report by The Hindu, Afghanistan is located on the Eurasian plate. In western Afghanistan, the Arabian plate moves under the Eurasian plate, while in the east, the Indian plate does the same. In the south, the Arabian and Indian plates meet, and both slide northward beneath the Eurasian plate, the report detailed.
The Hindu Kush region is highly prone to earthquakes due to its geographical location. Apart from Hindu Kush, Afghanistan's Herat province also sits on a significant fault line.
Further, Afghanistan is also crisscrossed by various active fault systems like the Chaman Fault and the Main Pamir Thrust. This also makes the region highly earthquake-prone.
Buildings in Afghanistan tend to be low-rise constructions, mostly of concrete and brick, with homes in rural and outlying areas made from mud bricks and wood. Many are of poor construction, according to the Associated Press.
