A strong 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan early Monday, with tremors felt across Pakistan, India, and other neighbouring countries, according to early reports from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The quake occurred at 1:29 a.m. local time, with its epicentre about 23 km south of Khulm and 51 km east-southeast of Mazar-e-Sharif. The earthquake was relatively shallow, measured at a depth of 10 km, which often intensifies surface shaking.
Tremors Felt Across the Region
Residents in several cities, including Kabul, Islamabad, and areas near the Pakistan–India border, reported strong tremors on social media.
So far, there have been no immediate reports of casualties or damage, officials said.
Afghanistan’s Seismic Risk
Afghanistan lies in a highly active seismic zone, located near the boundary between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. This makes the region prone to frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes that can be felt across a wide area.
The Hindu Kush mountain region, in particular, has experienced several major earthquakes in recent years.
Series of Quakes Reported in Recent Days
Sunday’s quake follows another 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck the Hindu Kush region just a day earlier, after a series of lower-magnitude tremors on Saturday night.
According to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), those tremors were felt across several nearby provinces, though no significant damage was reported.
The USGS confirmed that the latest quake originated at a depth of 10 kilometres (six miles) in Khulm, near Mazar-i-Sharif, and tremors were felt as far as Kabul, Mashhad (Iran), and Islamabad (Pakistan), as reported by BNO News.
Recent Deadly Quakes in the Region
The latest earthquake comes months after a magnitude 6.0 quake in August that left over 800 people dead and many more injured. That disaster was described by local authorities as the deadliest earthquake to hit Afghanistan since 2023.
