KABUL: A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 struck northeastern Afghanistan on Thursday, sending tremors through buildings in the capital Kabul and reaching Islamabad in neighbouring Pakistan. Authorities have reported no casualties or serious damage as of several hours after the earthquake.
The epicentre of the earthquake was located in Jurm district in the Afghan province of Badakhshan, situated in the remote Hindu Kush region, according to the US Geological Survey. The quake, which struck at a depth of approximately 200 kilometres (125 miles), occurred just before 2:00 pm (0930 GMT).
Moezuddin Ahmadi, the provincial director of information and culture in Badakhshan, stated, “This afternoon, Badakhshan was jolted by a strong earthquake.” He added that there were no reports of casualties based on initial information. Authorities are currently checking areas near the epicentre to gather more detailed information.
Afghanistan is Prone to Earthquakes
The earthquake was felt in Kabul, located about 300 kilometres from Jurm. Qari Inam, a resident of Sooch in Jurm district, described the impact on his village, mentioning that the earthquake “shook the village” and caused cracks in the walls of several houses. Fortunately, there have been no reported casualties, and authorities are assessing nearby areas for any damage.
Afghanistan, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain range near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates, is prone to earthquakes. In October of the previous year, a series of quakes with magnitudes ranging from 4.2 to 6.3 claimed around 1,000 lives in western Afghanistan.
The affected region still faces challenges, with thousands of people living in tents as winter sets in, and 10,000 homes destroyed, according to the UN’s refugee agency. Afghanistan’s deadliest recent earthquake occurred in 1998, claiming 5,000 lives in the northeastern provinces of Takhar and Badakhshan.
