Argus News - Midnight Earthquake Shakes Afghanistan, Tremors Felt Across Central Asia

Kabul, Nov 3: A powerful earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale jolted northern Afghanistan late Monday night, leaving at least seven people dead and more than 150 seriously injured. The tremor struck at approximately 12:59 AM local time, with its epicentre located about 22 kilometres southwest of Khōlm and at a depth of 28 kilometres, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The powerful quake rippled across the region, with tremors felt in neighbouring countries including Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. Panicked residents rushed out of their homes as buildings trembled violently, triggering widespread fear and emergency responses.

Earlier, reports from Germany’s Geoscience Centre also confirmed seismic activity in the Hindu Kush region, registering a similar magnitude of 6.3 but at a shallower depth of 10 kilometres. This latest quake follows a 4.9 magnitude tremor that occurred late Saturday night in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan, located in a seismically active region, has witnessed numerous destructive earthquakes in recent years, resulting in significant loss of life, widespread damage, and ongoing concerns over infrastructure and preparedness. In August 2025, a 6.0 magnitude quake near the Pakistan border claimed over 2,200 lives. A similar 6.3 magnitude earthquake in October 2023 resulted in the deaths of at least 4,000 people. In 2023, a quake near the Iran border destroyed approximately 63,000 homes.

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Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, the frequency of earthquakes in the region has raised concerns about infrastructure resilience and emergency preparedness. Historical data indicate that northeastern Afghanistan has experienced at least 12 major earthquakes with magnitudes exceeding 7 since 1900.