A powerful earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale jolted Afghanistan in the early hours of Wednesday morning, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS).
The quake struck at 4:43 AM IST, with its epicenter located at Latitude 35.83°N and Longitude 70.60°E in the Hindu Kush region. The tremor occurred at a depth of 75 kilometers beneath the earth’s surface.
The NCS shared details of the seismic event in a post on X (formerly Twitter):
“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.”
Afghanistan, particularly the Hindu Kush mountain region, is known for frequent seismic activity due to its position on multiple fault lines where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. These geologically active zones make the region prone to devastating earthquakes.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), Afghanistan remains highly vulnerable to natural disasters such as earthquakes, seasonal floods, and landslides. These recurring disasters severely impact communities already weakened by decades of conflict and underdevelopment.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) notes that Afghanistan’s earthquake-prone areas, especially those near Herat and the Hindu Kush, experience quakes almost annually, often resulting in substantial damage to infrastructure and loss of lives in remote and under-resourced regions.
No immediate reports of casualties or damages have been released at this time.