5.6-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Northeastern Afghanistan, Spurring Panic

TAKHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – A significant earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.6 shook northeastern Afghanistan on Friday morning, sending residents fleeing from their homes and highlighting the country’s acute vulnerability to seismic disasters.

The tremor struck at 10:09 a.m. local time, with its epicentre located approximately 50 kilometres south of Taloqan, the provincial capital of Takhar, according to data from the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). The quake originated at a relatively shallow depth of 35 kilometres, which typically amplifies shaking felt at the surface.

While there were no immediate reports of serious casualties or major structural damage, local authorities cautioned that assessments were ongoing in what is a remote and mountainous region. The full impact may take time to determine.

“The shaking was strong and sudden. Everyone ran out into the streets in panic,” said a resident of Taloqan, echoing accounts from across the affected zone. The tremor was felt widely across Takhar and into neighbouring provinces, including in the cities of Khanabad, Nahrin, Farkhar, and Baghlan city, as well as surrounding villages.

A Nation on Seismic Fault Lines

Afghanistan’s location atop the complex collision zone of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates makes it prone to frequent and often devastating seismic activity. This latest event follows a series of deadly quakes in recent months. In January, a powerful tremor in the western province of Samangan killed several people and destroyed hundreds of homes. Last year, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake in western Herat Province resulted in over a thousand fatalities, one of the deadliest in the country’s recent history.

Compounding Crises: Disasters on Multiple Fronts

The earthquake underscores the multi-layered natural disaster risks confronting Afghanistan, which strain the capacities of a nation already grappling with profound humanitarian and economic crises. Beyond seismic threats, the country faces recurrent seasonal floods, landslides, and droughts.

Just weeks ago, devastating flash floods in northern provinces, including Baghlan and Ghor, killed hundreds, destroyed thousands of homes, and displaced entire communities. This convergence of hazards creates a relentless cycle of displacement and recovery, challenging both local resilience and international aid efforts.

Humanitarian organizations have expressed concern about the compounded effects of these disasters, particularly as they destroy livelihoods, damage critical infrastructure like water systems and clinics, and deepen food insecurity.

As daylight allows for further evaluation of today’s earthquake damage, authorities and aid agencies remain on alert, preparing to respond should the need arise in the already beleaguered region.

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