Tectonic Tensions

Why Earthquakes Keep Striking Afghanistan

- 

In this article, Dr Shamim Haque Mondal says Afghanistan experiences frequent earthquakes due to its position at the junction of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates near the Hindu Kush mountains. Constant plate movement and geological instability make the region highly earthquake-prone. Recent quakes, including the August 2025 magnitude 6.0 event in Kunar Province, have caused severe destruction and casualties. Rising global temperatures and melting Himalayan glaciers may also be increasing seismic activity. Experts suggest that stronger infrastructure, regular fault-line monitoring, and timely evacuation can help reduce losses in this vulnerable, mountainous nation.

In late August 2025, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, with its epicentre in the Nurgal District of Kunar Province, near the border with Pakistan. The quake left several people dead and thousands more injured. With a shallow depth of just 8 km, it struck about 27 km east-northeast of Jalalabad in Nangarhar Province. Although earthquakes of this magnitude do not usually cause extensive fatalities, this one proved particularly destructive due to the region's vulnerable infrastructure. It was followed by three aftershocks, ranging in magnitude from 4.5 to 5.2 on the Richter scale. The mountainous terrain has further compounded the suffering of affected communities, making rescue and relief efforts even more challenging.

Why Do Earthquakes Occur?