On Thursday, a robust earthquake struck northeastern Afghanistan, causing tremors in both Kabul and Islamabad in Pakistan. Authorities reported no casualties or significant damage several hours after the quake.
The earthquake, measuring 6.4 in magnitude, had its epicenter in the Jurm district of the Afghan province of Badakhshan, situated in the remote Hindu Kush region, according to the US Geological Survey. Moezuddin Ahmadi, the provincial director of information and culture, confirmed the seismic activity, stating that while there were no initial reports of casualties, assessments were underway in the quake’s vicinity for a comprehensive update.
The quake occurred at a depth of approximately 200 kilometers (125 miles) just before 2:00 pm (0930 GMT) and reverberated through Kabul, approximately 300 kilometers away from Jurm.
Qari Inam, a resident of Sooch in Jurm district, reported that the earthquake caused the village to shake, resulting in cracks in the walls of several houses. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties, but further assessments in nearby areas were being conducted.
Afghanistan, located in the seismic-prone Hindu Kush mountain range, frequently experiences earthquakes, given its proximity to the convergence of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. In October of the previous year, a series of earthquakes ranging from 4.2 to 6.3 magnitudes claimed around 1,000 lives in western Afghanistan.
Months later, many individuals remain in tents in the affected region as winter sets in, with the UN’s refugee agency reporting 10,000 homes destroyed. The deadliest earthquake in recent Afghan history occurred in 1998, claiming 5,000 lives in the northeastern provinces of Takhar and Badakhshan.