The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reports that an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 occurred in Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region early on Wednesday. 

The epicentre of the tremor, which struck at 04.43 a.m. IST (local time), was 75 km deep and situated at latitude 35.83 degrees North and longitude 70.60 degrees East.

The NCS informed on X: "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." 

Government and non-profit humanitarian organisations are closely monitoring the tragic situation, despite the fact that there have been no injuries or structural damage reported yet. 

The Hindu Kush region has a complicated tectonic setting, spanning northeastern Afghanistan. It is located in an area that is highly seismically active and prone to earthquakes. 

Not a first time for Afghanistan

It’s not a first for Afghanistan as it is highly vulnerable to seismic activities because it is located in the area where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide.

These frequent earthquakes unevenly affect areas that are already weakened due to decades of conflict and persistent underdevelopment, as reported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), which reaffirmed the nation’s acute susceptibility to natural disasters.

Strong earthquakes occur every year in Afghanistan, according to the Red Cross, particularly in areas with unstable geology, such as the Hindu Kush. The western province of Herat is located on a large fault line, which worsens the country's seismic risk profile.

Multiple powerful earthquakes, including one with a magnitude of 6.3, devastated western Afghanistan in October 2023, particularly Herat, killing over 1000 people and displacing thousands more. The region urgently requires improved disaster response procedures and long-term resilience planning, as demonstrated by the sad incident.

 

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