6.3-magnitude earthquake hits Afghanistan: 20 killed, over 100 injured; tremors felt in India and Pakistan

A powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.3 struck southeastern Afghanistan on Monday, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS). The tremor was recorded at 00:47 IST, with its epicentre at latitude 34.50N and longitude 70.81E, at a depth of 160 km.

BBC news reported that at least 20 people were killed after the quake. Local officials said to BBC that more than 115 injured people were taken to hospitals in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces.

Naqibullah Rahimi, spokesperson for the Nangarhar Public Health Department, told Reuters that at least nine people had died and 15 others were injured.

The earthquake was felt across Pakistan and northern India, including Delhi-NCR, where residents experienced strong tremors. Buildings shook, forcing people to rush outside in panic.

The 6.3-magnitude quake was followed by several aftershocks, measuring 4.7, 4.3, and two shocks of 5.0 on the Richter scale.

All these tremors are classified as either shallow or intermediate earthquakes, based on their depth. Shallow and intermediate quakes are considered more dangerous than deep ones because their seismic waves have a shorter distance to travel to the surface. This results in stronger shaking, greater damage to structures, and potentially higher casualties.

In recent years, Afghanistan and the neighbouring Himalayan belt have seen a worrying rise in seismic activity. The latest jolt serves as another reminder of the region’s fragile and vulnerable geology.