Two earthquakes strike Afghanistan with a magnitude exceeding 4, causing no damage
The Afghan National Seismological Center announced today that it has detected significant seismic activity in the country, as Afghan lands were hit by two consecutive earthquakes with a magnitude exceeding four on the Richter scale, in an event that highlights the active geological nature of this region.
Details of the recorded earthquakes
According to data released by the center, the first earthquake was recorded with a magnitude of 4.4 on the Richter scale. Monitoring stations located the epicenter at 36.57 degrees north latitude and 71.11 degrees east longitude. Notably, this earthquake occurred at a considerable depth of 163 kilometers below the Earth's surface, classifying it as a moderately deep earthquake. While these earthquakes are typically felt by residents across wide areas, their destructive impact is generally less severe compared to shallow earthquakes.
Later, specialized centers recorded a second earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale. This earthquake occurred at latitude 36.70 degrees north and longitude 71.51 degrees east, at a depth of 90 kilometers. Despite the series of tremors, no official reports of damage to infrastructure or casualties have been received so far, which is partly attributed to the depth of the earthquakes' epicenters and the mountainous terrain in which they occurred.
Geological context: Why do earthquakes occur so frequently in Afghanistan?
Afghanistan is one of the most earthquake-prone regions in the world due to its complex geography, situated atop major fault lines. The country lies in an active tectonic collision zone where the Indian Plate is compressing the Eurasian Plate northward at a rate of approximately 40 mm per year. This constant compression leads to a buildup of energy in the Earth's crust, which is released suddenly as earthquakes, the majority of which are concentrated in the high Hindu Kush mountain range in the northeast of the country.
Challenges and potential risks
Although the recent tremors have not caused immediate damage, the recurring seismic activity raises ongoing concerns about the safety of people and infrastructure in Afghanistan. Many rural and remote areas suffer from poorly constructed buildings, with many residents living in homes built of mud bricks or other traditional materials that are not typically able to withstand strong tremors. This reality exacerbates the impact of natural disasters, as even moderate earthquakes can sometimes cause significant damage if they occur close to the surface and in populated areas.
It should be noted that deep earthquakes originating in the Hindu Kush region often have an impact that extends to neighboring countries such as Pakistan and Tajikistan, making continuous monitoring and regional cooperation in early warning a pressing necessity to reduce the risks of natural disasters in this vital region of Central Asia.
