Powerful Afghanistan Quake Shakes South and Central Asia

A powerful 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush mountain region on Saturday evening, sending tremors across a vast area that included Pakistan, northern India and parts of Central Asia. Although the earthquake triggered panic among residents in several countries, there were no immediate reports of deaths or major damage.

According to preliminary assessments by international news agencies and seismological organisations, the earthquake occurred at 7:04 pm Indian Standard Time. The quake originated at a depth of approximately 215 kilometres beneath the Earth’s surface, making it a deep-focus earthquake.

Because of its considerable depth, the tremor was felt across a wide geographical region. Seismologists note that deep-focus earthquakes often produce shaking over long distances but generally cause less severe damage at the surface than shallow earthquakes of similar magnitude.

The epicentre was located about 81 kilometres from Kalafgan in north-eastern Afghanistan, within the seismically active Hindu Kush mountain range. Strong tremors were reported not only in Afghanistan but also across Pakistan, northern India, China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, highlighting the far-reaching impact of the seismic event.

In Pakistan, residents in several northern districts experienced strong shaking that prompted many people to flee their homes. The tremors were particularly noticeable in Swat district, where people rushed into open spaces fearing further seismic activity.

Speaking to Reuters, Swat resident Daniyal Ahmad described the earthquake as intense and said the shaking lasted for several moments.

“The tremor was very strong and continued for quite some time,” he said, adding that many residents left their homes immediately because they feared aftershocks. Women and children were seen crying as anxious families gathered outdoors until they believed the danger had passed.

Emergency authorities continued monitoring the situation after the quake, but no immediate reports indicated widespread structural damage or casualties. Officials cautioned, however, that assessments in mountainous and remote regions often take time, particularly where transportation and communications are limited.

A magnitude 6.2 earthquake is generally classified as a strong earthquake. Depending on factors such as depth, distance from populated areas and the quality of local infrastructure, earthquakes of this strength can cause considerable damage. In this instance, the earthquake’s deep origin appears to have reduced its destructive impact despite the widespread area over which it was felt.

The latest tremor came after several smaller earthquakes were recorded across India and Pakistan during the previous 24 hours, underlining the region’s ongoing seismic activity.

Earlier on Saturday, at 11:38 am local time, a 3.2-magnitude shallow earthquake struck Chamba district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. That tremor occurred at a depth of only 5 kilometres, although no significant damage was reported.

Meanwhile, data from the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) indicated that Pakistan experienced four earthquakes within the past 24 hours. The strongest measured 5.5 magnitude and struck Balochistan at 8:36 am local time on Saturday. That earthquake originated at a depth of 40 kilometres.

The Hindu Kush region is one of the world’s most active seismic zones due to the ongoing collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Earthquakes are frequent across Afghanistan and neighbouring countries, with both shallow and deep seismic events regularly affecting millions of people across South and Central Asia.

The latest earthquake also comes amid heightened global attention to seismic disasters following the devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela earlier this week. While the Afghanistan earthquake caused widespread alarm across several countries, authorities have so far reported no immediate large-scale casualties or destruction. Emergency agencies continue to monitor the situation closely as officials assess any delayed reports from remote mountainous areas.