Earthquake of magnitude 4.6 strikes Afghanistan
Kabul, April 15
An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 struck Afghanistan on Wednesday, as per a statement by the National Center for Seismology.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 140km.
In a post on X, the NCS said, "EQ of M: 4.6, On: 15/04/2026 09:30:03 IST, Lat: 36.545 N, Long: 71.409 E, Depth: 140 Km, Location: Afghanistan."
Earlier on April 12, an earthquake of magnitude 4.6 struck Afghanistan at a depth of 150km.
In a post on X, the NCS said, "EQ of M: 4.6, On: 12/04/2026 05:29:04 IST, Lat: 36.833 N, Long: 71.447 E, Depth: 150 Km, Location: Afghanistan."
Earlier on April 6, the Ministry of External Affairs said that India has delivered humanitarian assistance to support flood and earthquake-hit Afghanistan.
In a post on X, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India delivered humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) materials included kitchen sets, hygiene kits, plastic sheets, tarpaulins, sleeping bags, and more.
"India stands in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan and remains committed to extending humanitarian assistance and support during this challenging time," he said.
The death toll from natural disasters across 25 provinces of Afghanistan has risen to 35, with 52 people injured over the past two days, authorities said, TOLO News reported.
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 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.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The article mentions the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates. It's a stark reminder that geology connects us all. These tremors in the Hindu Kush are a result of the same tectonic forces that created the Himalayas. Nature doesn't recognize borders.
Magnitude 4.6 at 135km depth is significant. Thankfully, the depth might have reduced surface shaking. But seeing so many quakes in a week is worrying. Our disaster management agencies should also take note and review our own preparedness.
The data from NCS is very precise. It's good to see our scientific institutions monitoring seismic activity in the region so closely. This kind of information sharing is crucial for regional disaster risk reduction.
While the article is informative, it feels a bit repetitive with all the X posts copied. Could have been summarized better. The human impact angle is buried at the end. The focus should be more on the people affected than just the technical data.
This is a sobering reminder of how fragile life can be in seismically active zones. Many parts of India are also vulnerable. We must learn from these events and ensure our own buildings and infrastructure are earthquake-resistant. Jai Hind.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.