A moderate earthquake measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale struck Afghanistan on Thursday afternoon, sending tremors through the rugged Badakhshan province. The quake, centered near Ashkasham, occurred at around 1:08 PM Indian time, which corresponds to 4:30 PM local time. Located just 33 kilometers from the Afghan border, the epicenter lay at a depth of 100 kilometers beneath the earth’s surface.
While no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage have surfaced, the region remains on alert. This seismic event adds to a string of recent quakes plaguing the area. Just a day earlier, on Wednesday, a 3.8 magnitude tremor rattled the same vicinity at a depth of 90 kilometers. Tuesday saw an even shallower 4.1 magnitude quake at only 10 kilometers deep, heightening fears of aftershocks.
Experts note that shallower quakes like Tuesday’s pack a bigger punch because seismic waves travel shorter distances to the surface, causing more intense shaking, structural damage, and potential loss of life compared to deeper ones. Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region, a notorious seismic hotspot, frequently experiences such activity due to the relentless collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. A major fault line snakes through parts of the country, including Herat.
In a separate incident reported by Xinhua, a 4.2 magnitude earthquake hit southeastern Israel’s Dead Sea area, the lowest point on Earth’s surface. Striking at 9 AM local time near Jerusalem, the quake’s epicenter was 26 kilometers deep at coordinates 31.1°N, 35.5°E. Tremors were felt across multiple parts of the country, but Israel’s National Emergency Service, Magen David Adom, confirmed no injuries. Police deployed teams to inspect roads and buildings for hazards, reiterating public safety guidelines amid the event.