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 1 earthquake, the largest an M4.5 (74 km SE of Rasht, Tajikistan).
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.5 | Oct 26, 18:07 UTC | 47 km | 74 km SE of Rasht, Tajikistan |
| M5.2 | Oct 25, 17:44 UTC | 110 km | 59 km SW of Ashkāsham, Afghanistan |
| M4.1 | Oct 23, 22:09 UTC | 211 km | 55 km ESE of Farkhār, Afghanistan |
| M4.4 | Oct 22, 23:26 UTC | 82 km | 55 km SE of Dalbandin, Pakistan |
| M4.6 | Oct 22, 10:07 UTC | 175 km | 11 km W of Ashkāsham, Afghanistan |
Notable recent activity
A moderate M5.2 earthquake struck 59 km SW of Ashkāsham, Afghanistan at 17:44 UTC on Oct 25 at a depth of 110 km.
An M4.6 earthquake struck 11 km W of Ashkāsham, Afghanistan at 10:07 UTC on Oct 22 at a depth of 175 km.
An M4.5 earthquake struck 74 km SE of Rasht, Tajikistan at 18:07 UTC on Oct 26 at a depth of 47 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.