Kabul trembled as a powerful 5.4 magnitude earthquake struck the volatile border region between Afghanistan and Tajikistan on Wednesday. The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) pegged the intensity at 5.4 on the Richter scale, though some reports cited up to 5.7. The quake hit at 4:42 PM local time, sending shockwaves that rattled nerves across the rugged terrain.
The epicenter was located at 36.93 degrees North latitude and 71.61 degrees East longitude, with the hypocenter buried 90.2 kilometers beneath the Earth’s surface. Tremors were felt not just in Afghanistan but also rippled into neighboring Pakistan, where residents in Islamabad, Swat, Peshawar, Chitral, and other cities rushed outdoors in panic.
Eyewitnesses described the ground shaking violently, forcing people to abandon homes and offices for open spaces. Miraculously, no immediate reports of casualties or major damage have surfaced, but authorities remain on high alert in this seismically active zone.
This event comes just days after a 5.8 magnitude quake on February 20 rocked Kabul and surrounding provinces, centered near Bazarak in Panjshir. Afghanistan’s history with devastating tremors is grim. Last October 2023, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake and aftershocks claimed over 4,000 lives, as confirmed by Taliban officials. Earlier, a 6.0 quake near the Pakistan border in August 2024 killed more than 2,000.
Experts warn that the Hindu Kush region, straddling these borders, sits on major fault lines, making it prone to frequent seismic activity. Rescue teams and emergency services are prepared for any escalation, while locals brace for potential aftershocks. As relief efforts stand ready, the focus remains on monitoring and public safety in these earthquake-prone lands.