Kabble: In the early hours of Wednesday, a 5.9 earthquake struck the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS). The tremor occurred at 04.43 am IST (local time). The epicenter was located at 35.83 degrees north latitude, with an eastern longitude of 70.60 degrees and a depth of 75 kilometers.
NCS shared details on X, noting: “M: 5.9, on: 16/04/2025 04: 43:58 IST, LAT: 35.83 N, LONG: 70.60 E, Depth: 75 km, Location, Location, Location: Hindu Kush, Afghanistan, Afghanistan.” There were no reports of immediate reports of casualties or structural damage, but authorities and humanitarian agencies were closely monitoring the situation.
The Kush Mountains in India, spread across northeast Afghanistan, are part of a highly seismic-active area, which often occur due to the complex tectonic environment of the region. Afghanistan is located in the collision area between India and Eurasian tectonic plates, which makes it particularly easy to conduct seismic activities.
The United Nations Office for Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) reiterates the country’s extreme vulnerability to natural disasters, noting that frequent earthquakes have disproportionately affected communities that have been weakened by decades of conflict and chronic underlying developments. According to the Red Cross, powerful earthquakes are once a year in Afghanistan, especially in geological fluctuations such as Hindu Kush.
The western province of Herat is also on a huge fault line, further increasing the country’s earthquake risk profile.
In October 2023, a series of powerful earthquakes, including magnitude 6.3, destroyed western Afghanistan, especially Herat, killing more than 1,000 people and replacing thousands. The tragedy underscores the urgent need for strengthening disaster response systems and long-term resilience programs throughout the region.
