FIGUR(E)ING Fractured Earth

From Kabul to Kashmir, tectonic forces lie in wait. Without urgent action, millions may face preventable disaster.

- Dr. Afroz Ahmad Shah

On August 31, at exactly 19:17:34 UTC, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck east-northeast of Jalalabad, Afghanistan. At a shallow depth of just eight kilometres, the quake devastated densely populated areas with fragile infrastructure, claiming over 600 lives in mere minutes.

Earlier, on June 21, the same region experienced a magnitude 5.9 tremor, also shallow, that similarly caused loss of life.

These tragedies are not surprising because earthquakes are new to Afghanistan. What is shocking is how unprepared the country remains. Political instability, poverty, and decades of conflict have stifled investment in infrastructure that could withstand seismic shocks.

Contrast this with nations like Japan or New Zealand, where similar earthquakes often cause minimal damage. The difference is stark: here, a natural hazard quickly becomes a human catastrophe, a deadly mix of geology and governance.

South and Southeast Asia sit on one of the planet's most restless tectonic zones. The Indian plate continues its relentless push northward into Eurasia, a movement ongoing for over 50 million years. This slow collision has built the Himalayas, the Hindu Kush, and countless valleys that sustain millions.

Yet beneath this stunning landscape lurks enormous risk.