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4.6 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Tajikistan, Highlighting Climate Vulnerabilities

A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck Tajikistan on Sunday morning at a significant depth of 103 kilometers. This seismic event follows a stronger 5.3 magnitude quake that hit the region earlier in January. Tajikistan's mountainous terrain makes it highly vulnerable to a range of natural hazards including earthquakes, floods, and landslides. Climate change is exacerbating these risks, with predictions that 30% of the country's glaciers could disappear by 2050, further threatening infrastructure and communities.

Key Points: Earthquake Hits Tajikistan, Exposing Climate Risks

  • 4.6 magnitude quake at 103 km depth
  • Follows a 5.3 magnitude quake earlier in January
  • Country prone to quakes, floods, and landslides
  • Climate change threatens 30% of glaciers by 2050
  • Infrastructure weakened by natural hazards
2 min read

Earthquake of magnitude 4.6 strikes Tajikistan

A 4.6 magnitude earthquake struck Tajikistan, a country highly vulnerable to seismic activity and climate hazards like glacial melt and landslides.

"EQ of M: 4.6, On: 25/01/2026 06:06:29 IST, Lat: 37.09 N, Long: 71.90 E, Depth: 103 Km, Location: Tajikistan. - National Center for Seismology"

Dushanbe, January 25

An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 struck Tajikistan on Sunday morning, as reported by the National Center for Seismology.

The earthquake took place at 06:06AM (Indian Standard Time), at a depth of 103 kilometres.

The NCS said on X, "EQ of M: 4.6, On: 25/01/2026 06:06:29 IST, Lat: 37.09 N, Long: 71.90 E, Depth: 103 Km, Location: Tajikistan."

Earlier in January, an earthquake of magnitude 5.3 had also struck Tajikistan. In a post on X, the NCS said, "EQ of M: 5.3, On: 09/01/2026 02:44:16 IST, Lat: 38.26 N, Long: 73.42 E, Depth: 110 Km, Location: Tajikistan."

Tajikistan is a mountainous country with diverse topography and is especially vulnerable to climate hazards. It is prone to earthquakes, floods, droughts, avalanches, landslides and mudslides. The most susceptible areas are the glacier-dependent river basins supplying hydropower and water resources for irrigation, fragile mountain ecosystems and isolated forests with mountainous and riverine terrain, which makes them prone to landslides and land degradation.

As per the World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal, climate change is exacerbating Tajikistan's vulnerabilities, given that 30 per cent of glaciers are predicted to disappear by 2050. Tajikistan also remains one of the most isolated countries in the world - a situation made worse by landslides, debris flows and floods that can render bridges unsafe and roads impassable and, through time, weaken the flood defences which protect its most exposed communities.

In addition to this chronic challenge, Tajikistan's infrastructure is gradually deteriorating as a result of insufficient maintenance and repeated exposure to natural hazards.

As per the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, it is important to blend hazard information and climate change scenarios with local knowledge in the design of newly constructed and rehabilitated infrastructure assets to improve resilience over time.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The article highlights the real issue - climate change. Glaciers melting by 2050 is alarming for the entire region's water security, not just Tajikistan. We need more regional cooperation on disaster management.
A
Aman W
Our NCS does a good job tracking these. The data is precise and timely. Hope the people there are safe. Mountainous countries face so many challenges.
S
Sarah B
Reading about the deteriorating infrastructure is heartbreaking. It's a cycle – natural hazards damage it, lack of funds prevent repair, making them more vulnerable. The world needs to support such nations more.
V
Vikram M
While the reporting is factual, I wish there was more analysis on whether seismic activity in our neighbourhood is increasing. Two quakes in one month in the same area seems notable. Are our agencies studying the patterns?
K
Kavya N
This is a reminder for us in India as well. We must invest in resilient infrastructure, especially in our Himalayan states. Uttarakhand, Himachal – they face similar risks. Jai Hind!

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