Afghanistan: 5.9 Magnitude Earthquake Kills at Least Eight People

At least eight people were killed in Kabul after a 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan, with tremors felt in Pakistan and India. The deaths occurred when a house collapsed, while authorities warned that damage assessments may take time due to the remote location of the epicenter. Afghanistan, prone to earthquakes, has suffered several deadly quakes in recent years.

At least eight people have been confirmed dead in Kabul after a powerful earthquake measuring 5.9 magnitude struck parts of northern Afghanistan and extended into neighboring Pakistan late on Friday night, according to local authorities.
The earthquake originated in the rugged Hindu Kush mountain range, a seismically active region located roughly 150 kilometers east of the city of Kunduz. The tremor was widely felt across Afghanistan and reached several areas in Pakistan and even parts of northern India, causing panic among residents who rushed out of their homes for safety.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), the earthquake occurred at a depth of about 177 kilometers (110 miles), which classifies it as a deep earthquake. While deeper quakes tend to cause less surface destruction than shallow ones, the tremor was still strong enough to cause structural damage in vulnerable areas.
In Kabul, the fatalities occurred when a residential building collapsed on the outskirts of the city. A family of eight lost their lives in the incident, while a child survived with injuries and is currently receiving medical attention. Local officials described the situation as tragic, noting that many homes in affected areas are not built to withstand seismic activity.
Authorities have warned that the full extent of the damage may not be immediately known due to the remote and mountainous nature of the earthquake’s epicenter. Emergency response teams are facing challenges in accessing some of the hardest-hit locations, which could delay rescue and assessment operations.
Health facilities across Afghanistan have been placed on high alert in anticipation of possible additional casualties, with medical teams preparing to respond to injuries as reports continue to come in from different regions.
In Pakistan, the tremors were felt across several major cities and towns, including Islamabad, Peshawar, Chitral, Swat, and Shangla. Although there have been no immediate reports of casualties there, residents experienced significant shaking that led to temporary evacuations and heightened concern.
Similarly, parts of India, including Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, and Kargil, reported noticeable tremors. Local media indicated that while the shaking caused alarm, there were no confirmed reports of major damage or loss of life.
Afghanistan remains highly vulnerable to earthquakes due to its location along major tectonic fault lines. The country has experienced several devastating quakes in recent years. In August of a previous year, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake in the mountainous Kunar province claimed more than 2,200 lives and left thousands injured. Earlier, in October 2023, another powerful earthquake measuring 6.3 magnitude struck near Herat in western Afghanistan, killing thousands and causing widespread destruction.
These recurring disasters highlight the urgent need for improved infrastructure, better emergency preparedness, and stronger disaster response systems in the region, as communities continue to face the constant threat of seismic activity.