A significant earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale jolted Afghanistan on Saturday afternoon at 12:17 PM IST, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS).
The epicentre was pinpointed at 36.10° North latitude and 71.20° East longitude, with the quake originating at a depth of 130 kilometres.
Tremors were felt across several parts of northern India, including the Delhi-NCR region and Jammu & Kashmir. Although no immediate reports of damage or casualties have emerged, officials are closely monitoring the situation.
The NCS confirmed the seismic activity in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating:
“Earthquake of Magnitude: 5.8 | Date: 19/04/2025 | Time: 12:17:53 IST | Lat: 36.10 N | Long: 71.20 E | Depth: 130 Km | Location: Afghanistan”
This incident comes just days after another earthquake of magnitude 5.6 was recorded in Afghanistan on Wednesday, with its epicentre located around 164 km east of Baghlan. Initially, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported the tremor as a magnitude 6.4, but it was later downgraded to 5.6.
Additionally, on the same day, Jammu & Kashmir’s Kishtwar region experienced a minor earthquake measuring 2.4 on the Richter scale at approximately 5:14 AM IST. This tremor occurred at a shallow depth of 5 kilometres.
Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to natural disasters, including earthquakes, landslides, and seasonal flooding. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has emphasized that the region’s frequent seismic activity exacerbates the challenges faced by communities already strained by prolonged conflict and underdevelopment.
The Hindu Kush region, in particular, is known for intense geological activity. The country lies along several major fault lines where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates converge. One such fault runs directly through Herat, significantly increasing the area’s seismic risk.
