Another earthquake hits Afghanistan; 2nd in 2 days

Afghanistan was jolted by a second earthquake on Tuesday, measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale, just days after a powerful 6.0 magnitude quake devastated

villages in the eastern part of the country. An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 on the Richter scale struck Afghanistan on Tuesday evening. The quake occurred at 5:59 pm IST at a depth of 130 km, with its epicentre located at latitude 34.55 N and longitude 70.68 E, according to the National Center for Seismology.

Earlier on Sunday, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake had struck the Kunar province, near the city of Jalalabad in the neighbouring Nangahar province, causing extensive damage. The quake at 11:47 pm was centred 27 kilometres east-northeast of the city of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, the US Geological Survey said. It was just 8 kilometres deep. Shallower quakes tend to cause more damage.

It flattened villages and trapped people under the rubble of homes that were constructed mostly of mud bricks and wood and were unable to withstand the shock.

The death toll from a major earthquake in eastern Afghanistan passed 1,400 on Tuesday, with more than 3,000 people injured, Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban government spokesman, said on social platform X. Rough terrain is hampering rescue and relief efforts., according to a report by AP. The Taliban government, which is only recognised by Russia, has appealed for assistance from foreign governments and the humanitarian sector.

Why Earthquakes Are So Frequent In Afghanistan

Afghanistan is part of a highly seismically active zone as it lies along the collision zone between Indian and the Eurasian tectonic plates. These plates collide often, leading to significant tectonic activity in the region. The Sunday quake was the third major earthquake since the Taliban seized power in 2021, and the latest crisis to beset Afghanistan, which is reeling from deep cuts to aid funding, a weak economy, and millions of people forcibly returned from Iran and Pakistan. Further, around four major earthquakes have hit Afghanistan since the beginning of 2025, according to Reuters.

• Earthquake of magnitude 5.6 and 5.8 hit the Hindu Kush and Afghanistan-Tajikistan border regions, on April 16 and 19, respectively.
• A 5.2 magnitude earthquake hit Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region on August 19, at a depth of 186 km (115 miles).
• A 5.6 magnitude quake hit Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region on August 2

The deadliest natural disaster to strike Afghanistan in recent memory was in October 2023. A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Afghanistan on October 7, 2023, followed by strong aftershocks. The Taliban government estimated at least 4,000 people perished in that quake. The UN gave a far lower death toll of about 1,500.


(With agency inputs)