Powerful Earthquake of Magnitude 6.3 Hits Southeastern Afghanistan, At Least 800 Dead

• By Thetripurapost Web Desk, Kabul
• Sep 01, 2025
• 553

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck southeastern Afghanistan early Monday, leaving at least 800 people dead and more than 2000 injured, according to international media reports.

The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) said the quake occurred at 00:47 IST, with its epicentre at latitude 34.50N and longitude 70.81E, at a depth of 160 km.

The tremor was strongly felt across Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northern India, including Delhi-NCR, where residents rushed outdoors in panic as buildings shook.

Casualties Reported

The BBC, citing local officials, reported that at least 800 people lost their lives, while hospitals in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces received more than 1800 injured people.
Naqibullah Rahimi, spokesperson for Nangarhar’s Public Health Department, told Reuters that 790 deaths and 1376 injuries had been confirmed in the province.

Series of Aftershocks:

The main quake was followed by several aftershocks, measuring 4.7, 4.3, and two tremors of 5.0 on the Richter scale.

Seismic Risk in the Region:

Seismologists classify the shocks as shallow to intermediate in depth — categories considered more dangerous than deep quakes because seismic waves travel a shorter distance to the surface, leading to stronger shaking and greater destruction.

Afghanistan lies in a seismically active zone near the Himalayan belt. In recent years, the region has witnessed an increase in devastating earthquakes, highlighting its fragile geology and vulnerability to natural disasters.