5.7 magnitude earthquake hits Afghanistan

A 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region on Friday, according to the German Research Center for Geosciences. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 79km at 5:39 p.m. local time (1309 GMT). It was felt in the capital, Kabul, as well as in nearby provinces, though there were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage.

Shortly afterward, a slightly stronger 5.8-magnitude quake was reported in eastern Afghanistan, again affecting Kabul. A disaster management official said that the impact was limited. The earthquake struck on Friday evening as many people across the Muslim-majority country were preparing to break their Ramadan fast.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the epicenter was located roughly 130km northeast of Kabul, near several remote villages. Mohammad Yousuf Hamad, spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Authority, said there were no casualties or widespread destruction. He confirmed that one person suffered minor injuries in Takhar province, while three homes sustained minor damage in Laghman.

Earthquakes are a frequent occurrence in Afghanistan, particularly along the Hindu Kush mountains, where the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates converge. The country has endured several devastating quakes in recent years. For example, in August last year, a shallow 6.0-magnitude earthquake in eastern Afghanistan destroyed entire mountainside villages and killed more than 2,200 people. Just weeks later, a 6.3-magnitude quake in the north claimed 27 lives. Powerful tremors in Herat near the Iranian border in 2023, and in Nangarhar province in 2022, also left hundreds dead and thousands of homes in ruins.

The impact of earthquakes in Afghanistan is often worsened by fragile infrastructure. Many homes, especially in rural areas, are poorly constructed after decades of conflict and instability. In addition, limited communication networks and difficult mountainous terrain have repeatedly slowed emergency response efforts, sometimes delaying access to remote communities for hours or even days while authorities assess the damage.