Earthquake of magnitude 4.6 strikes Afghanistan

KABUL: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 struck Afghanistan on late Saturday night, a statement by the National Center for Seismology (NCS) said.

As per the statement, the earthquake occurred at a depth of 82km.

"EQ of M: 4.6, On: 21/03/2026 22:43:49 IST, Lat: 36.167 N, Long: 70.850 E, Depth: 82 Km, Location: Afghanistan," as per NCS.

Earlier in the day, another earthquake of magnitude 4.5 struck the region at a depth 130km.




In a post on X, the NCS said, "EQ of M: 4.5, On: 21/03/2026 07:31:50 IST, Lat: 34.942 N, Long: 70.070 E, Depth: 130 Km, Location: Afghanistan."

Earthquakes can occur anywhere between the Earth's surface and about 700 kilometres below the surface. For scientific purposes, this earthquake depth range of 0 - 700 km is divided into three zones: shallow, intermediate, and deep, as per USGS data.

Shallow earthquakes are between 0 and 70 km deep; intermediate earthquakes, 70 - 300 km deep; and deep earthquakes, 300 - 700 km deep. In general, the term "deep-focus earthquakes" is applied to earthquakes deeper than 70 km, the USGS states.

Shallow earthquakes are generally more dangerous than deep earthquakes. This is because the seismic waves from shallow earthquakes have a shorter distance to travel to the surface, resulting in stronger ground shaking and potentially more damage to structures and greater casualties.

Afghanistan frequently experiences earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush region, which lies in a highly active seismic zone, according to the Red Cross.

Afghanistan's vulnerability to earthquakes is linked to its location along the collision zone between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. A major fault line also passes through parts of the country, including the Herat region.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) notes that Afghanistan remains extremely vulnerable to natural disasters, including earthquakes, landslides and seasonal flooding. Repeated tremors worsen the situation for communities already struggling with decades of conflict and limited development, leaving them with minimal resilience to withstand multiple shocks.