Afghanistan was hit by two distinct earthquakes on Friday, with the latest registering a magnitude of 4.1. The National Center for Seismology (NCS) reported that the tremor occurred at a depth of 178 km. This event followed an earlier earthquake of magnitude 4.3, which was recorded at a depth of 170 km.
The NCS detailed the location of the 4.1 magnitude quake as latitude 36.45 N and longitude 70.99 E. The earlier 4.3 magnitude event was pinpointed at latitude 36.40 N and longitude 70.52 E. The recurrence of these seismic events within a single day highlights the dynamic geological conditions present in the region.
Afghanistan’s geographical position within the seismically volatile Hindu Kush mountains, a result of the tectonic collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates, makes it highly susceptible to earthquakes. This constant seismic threat, as noted by humanitarian agencies, poses a significant challenge to a country already struggling with the impacts of conflict and underdevelopment, leaving communities with limited capacity to withstand and recover from natural disasters.