A powerful 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck japanese Afghanistan on Friday, February 20. The tremors reached the capital and close by provinces. Whereas the shaking brought about panic in a area nonetheless recovering from latest earthquakes, there have been no rapid experiences of accidents or main harm. The USA Geological Survey (USGS) famous that the quake’s epicenter was about 130 kilometers (80 miles) northeast of Kabul.
Widespread Tremors Throughout Central Provinces
Witnesses in Kabul and Nangarhar province reported sturdy shaking that lasted a number of seconds. Residents in Bamiyan and Wardak provinces, positioned west of the capital, additionally felt the tremors.
The quake occurred when many residents had been already on edge after a collection of extreme tremors up to now 12 months. Authorities are assessing distant mountainous areas, however poor communication usually delays info from distant villages.
A Area Beneath Seismic Stress
Afghanistan sits in a really energetic seismic space, particularly alongside the Hindu Kush mountain vary the place the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates meet. Not too long ago, the nation has skilled a notably energetic and lethal seismic interval:
– August 2025: A shallow 6.0-magnitude quake in japanese Afghanistan destroyed mountainside villages and killed over 2,200 folks.
– September 2025: A 6.3-magnitude tremor in northern Afghanistan resulted in at the very least 27 deaths simply weeks later.
Historic Context: Main earthquakes in Herat (2023) and Nangarhar (2022) beforehand destroyed hundreds of properties and brought about a whole lot of deaths.
Infrastructure Vulnerability and Response Challenges
The repeated excessive demise tolls in Afghanistan usually come from the nation’s fundamental development strategies. In rural areas, properties are often produced from mud and would not have the power to resist even average earthquakes.
Moreover, the mountainous panorama makes emergency responses troublesome. In previous disasters, it has taken rescue groups days to achieve distant epicenters to offer medical assist or assess the complete extent of the harm.