As reported by the National Center for Seismology (NCS), a powerful earthquake struck Afghanistan at 12:17 pm on Saturday, attacking Afghanistan on the Richter scale.
The epicenter of the earthquake is located at 36.10 degrees north latitude, 71.20 degrees east longitude, and 130 kilometers deep. Earthquake tremors in several northern regions of India, including Jamu and Kashmir and Delhi-NCR regions.
Although there were no reports of damage or injury immediately, authorities kept a close eye on the situation.
NCS confirmed the earthquake activity through a post on social media platform X.
NCS said in an article on X: “M: 5.8, on: 19/04/2025 12:17:53 IST, LAT: 36.10 N, Long: 71.20 E, Depth: 130 km, Location: Afghanistan.”
The incident occurred with a similar tremor that occurred earlier this week. On Wednesday, Afghanistan recorded a magnitude 5.6 earthquake with its center around 164 kilometers east of Bagran.
The European-Medium-Seismology Center (EMSC) initially reported an amplitude of 6.4, but later modified it to 5.6.
In related developments, the Kishtwal region of Jamu and Kashmir also experienced a mild earthquake, with an earthquake of 2.4 on the Richter scale at around 5:14 am on Wednesday.
The tremor occurs at a shallow depth of 5 kilometers.
The United Nations Office for Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) stressed that Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to natural hazards such as earthquakes, landslides and seasonal flooding.
Unocha also noted that frequent earthquake activity in the region severely affected already vulnerable communities that had endured years of conflict and underdevelopedness.
These conditions greatly weaken their ability to deal with multiple crises at once. According to the Red Cross, Afghanistan has experienced a strong earthquake history, especially in the Kush region of India, which is known for its intense geological activities and frequent tremors.
The country is located in several major fault lines that meet the tectonic plates of India and Eurasia. One of these fault lines passes directly through Herat, increasing the risk of earthquake events in the area.
