5.8 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Afghanistan, 8 Dead, Tremors Felt In India

A 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck northern and eastern Afghanistan, as well as western Pakistan, late Friday, killing at least eight people in Afghanistan, AP reported.

The tremors were felt across northern India.

According to the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Center and the US Geological Survey, the earthquake’s epicenter was in the Hindu Kush mountain range, about 150 kilometers east of Kunduz, Afghanistan.

Residents in Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, and the surrounding National Capital Region rushed out of their homes as the tremors struck.

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 the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 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.