Magnitude 5.9 Earthquake Strikes Afghanistan: Key Details and Implications
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Afghanistan on April 16, 2025, at 4:43 AM IST, with a depth of 75 kilometers. The NCS reported the location as Latitude 35.83 N and Longitude 70.60 E. Afghanistan is highly susceptible to natural disasters, worsening conditions for already vulnerable communities.
An earthquake of magnitude 5.9 struck Afghanistan at 4:43 AM IST on April 16, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS). The quake’s epicenter was determined to be at Latitude 35.83 N and Longitude 70.60 E, occurring at a depth of 75 kilometers. This incident highlights Afghanistan’s vulnerability to natural disasters, as noted by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).
Afghanistan frequently experiences earthquakes, especially in the seismically active Hindu Kush Mountain range, which also has fault lines from the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. These earthquakes worsen the plight of communities already suffering from prolonged conflict and underdevelopment. The lack of resilience makes them particularly susceptible to simultaneous natural disasters, such as flooding and landslides.
The earthquake in Afghanistan underscores the ongoing challenge the nation faces regarding natural disasters, compounded by its unstable socio-political landscape. Frequent seismic activity, especially in the Hindu Kush region, poses continuous threats to vulnerable populations with limited resources to respond to crises. As reported, the depth and magnitude of this quake highlight the inherent geological risks that the country endures.
Original Source: m.economictimes.com
