Recent earthquakes in Afghanistan
Afghanistan lies in the collision zone between the Indian, Arabian, and Eurasian plates, cut by major faults such as the Chaman Fault and underlain by the deep Hindu Kush seismic zone. This produces both shallow crustal earthquakes and unusually deep intermediate-depth events. Shallow earthquakes in the mountainous east and west have repeatedly caused heavy losses in vulnerable villages. In the past 24 hours, Afghanistan has recorded no earthquakes above the reporting threshold.
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.6 | Sep 9, 20:17 UTC | 30 km | 24 km E of Rasht, Tajikistan |
| M4.4 | Sep 9, 18:02 UTC | 108 km | 29 km SSW of Ashkāsham, Afghanistan |
| M4.0 | Sep 7, 00:06 UTC | 159 km | 81 km SE of Farkhār, Afghanistan |
Notable recent activity
An M4.6 earthquake struck 24 km E of Rasht, Tajikistan at 20:17 UTC on Sep 9 at a depth of 30 km.
An M4.4 earthquake struck 29 km SSW of Ashkāsham, Afghanistan at 18:02 UTC on Sep 9 at a depth of 108 km.
An M4.0 earthquake struck 81 km SE of Farkhār, Afghanistan at 00:06 UTC on Sep 7 at a depth of 159 km.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Afghanistan have earthquakes?
Afghanistan sits where the Indian and Arabian plates push into Eurasia, straining faults across the country. The Hindu Kush region also hosts a deep slab that produces intermediate-depth earthquakes felt across a wide area.
What is the Hindu Kush seismic zone?
Beneath the Hindu Kush mountains, a remnant of subducted plate produces frequent earthquakes at depths of 100 to 250 km. These deep events, sometimes magnitude 6 to 7, are felt across Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northern India but usually cause limited surface damage.
What were Afghanistan's deadliest recent earthquakes?
Shallow earthquakes have caused severe losses, including the June 2022 Paktika earthquake (M6.2) and a series of magnitude 6.3 earthquakes near Herat in October 2023, each killing thousands in the region's vulnerable housing.
Nearby regions
Live data from the USGS earthquake feeds. Magnitudes and depths are automated readings and may be revised. Not for emergency use.