KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The United States Geological Survey has reported two consecutive earthquakes measuring 5.3 and 4.5 on the Richter scale in Afghanistan.
According to the agency, the first earthquake, with a magnitude of 5.3, occurred at around 7:24 a.m. today (Saturday, April 18), 27 kilometers south of Jurm district in Badakhshan province, at a depth of 198.8 kilometers.
The United States Geological Survey stated that the second earthquake, with a magnitude of 4.5, also occurred at around 7:46 a.m. today, 34 kilometers from Jurm in Badakhshan, at a depth of 186.1 kilometers.
A number of residents of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, reported that the earthquakes were also felt in different parts of the city.
So far, there have been no reports of casualties or possible damages caused by these earthquakes.
Afghanistan is considered a seismically active country, and earthquakes frequently occur due to its location along major fault lines, often causing concern among residents, especially in vulnerable and mountainous regions where infrastructure is limited.
Similarly, two months ago, a 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck parts of Afghanistan on Friday evening (February 20), according to the United States Geological Survey. The quake occurred at around 5:40 p.m. local time and was centered about 38 kilometers northwest of Bazarak, the capital of Panjshir province, at a depth of 90 kilometers.
At the time, tremors were felt not only in Panjshir but also in Kabul, as well as in Charikar, the center of Parwan province, including Jabal Saraj district. Shaking was also reported in Pul-e-Khumri, the capital of Baghlan province, and in Nahrin district, highlighting the wide geographic impact of seismic activity in the region.
Afghanistan has experienced several deadly earthquakes over the past year. In the month of September 2025, a powerful quake in eastern Kunar province killed around 2,000 people and caused widespread destruction. Another strong earthquake in the month of November, struck northern Afghanistan, leaving dozens dead and injured.
In previous years, the country has also suffered devastating tremors. In mid-October 2023, three major earthquakes measuring 6.3 in magnitude, followed by multiple aftershocks, hit Herat province in western Afghanistan, killing more than 2,000 people. Earlier, in July, a powerful earthquake in Paktika province destroyed hundreds of homes and left at least 1,000 people dead and about 3,000 injured.
The crisis is further compounded by the ongoing return of Afghan refugees from neighbouring countries. Over the past two years, more than four million people have returned from Iran and Pakistan.
Natural disasters, prolonged drought, and a steep decline in international aid have intensified Afghanistan’s already severe humanitarian crisis, leaving millions at risk.
