Afghanistan was rocked by another earthquake late on Friday, compounding the devastation from a string of powerful tremors that have shaken the country in recent days. The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reported a magnitude 5.0 quake at 10:55 p.m. IST, located 110 kilometers east of Kabul at a depth of 10 kilometers.
In a post on X, the NCS confirmed the details: “EQ of M: 5.0, On: 05/09/2025 22:55:53 IST, Lat: 34.45 N, Long: 70.41 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Afghanistan.” Earlier the same day, a magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck at nearly the same depth, raising fears of aftershocks across the region.
The U.S. Geological Survey recorded at least five aftershocks following Friday’s tremors, the strongest reaching magnitude 5.6. The shocks rattled Kabul as well as neighboring Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, according to AFP.
National disaster authority spokesman Mohammad Hammad told AFP that 10 people were injured across eight provinces, with Kunar, Nangarhar, and Laghman among the hardest hit. This adds to the more than 3,700 people already reported injured earlier in the week.
Seismologists have warned that the shallow nature of the quakes makes them especially destructive. With epicenters just 8–10 kilometers deep, the seismic waves reached the surface quickly, causing severe ground shaking and extensive structural damage.
The latest tremors come as Afghanistan continues to grapple with the aftermath of a catastrophic magnitude 6.0 earthquake on Sunday, one of the deadliest in recent history. That quake, also shallow, struck mountainous southeastern regions, where rescuers have been recovering bodies from collapsed homes and villages. According to a Taliban government spokesperson, the death toll from Sunday’s disaster has climbed to more than 2,200, with at least 3,640 people injured.
A subsequent magnitude 5.5 quake on Tuesday further compounded the destruction, leaving rescue operations stretched thin. The United Nations has warned that the death toll could rise further as many people remain trapped under rubble, particularly in remote and hard-to-reach areas of Kunar province.
The devastation has left thousands without shelter, food, and medical supplies. Aid agencies say the scale of the disaster is overwhelming for a country already struggling with poverty and limited healthcare infrastructure. The Taliban government has appealed for international assistance as emergency workers and volunteers continue to search for survivors.
The string of earthquakes highlights Afghanistan’s vulnerability to seismic activity. Experts warn that the risk of additional aftershocks remains high in the coming days, keeping communities across eastern provinces on edge.
With rescue and relief efforts ongoing, the focus remains on saving lives and providing urgent humanitarian aid. But for many in the quake-hit regions, the destruction of homes and livelihoods marks the beginning of a long struggle to rebuild.
