Magnitude 6.1 earthquake hits eastern Afghanistan, tremors felt in Islamabad and Kabul
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on Saturday afternoon, according to the US Geological Survey. Tremors were felt in the capital Kabul and in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Quake details
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake shook northeastern Afghanistan at 18:04 local time (13:34 GMT) on Saturday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. The quake's epicenter was located 43 kilometers south of the city of Jorm in Badakhshan province, at a depth of 208.3 kilometers, the USGS reported. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) also recorded the event, placing its depth at 201 kilometers.
Areas affected
The tremor shook eastern provinces including Khost and Nangarhar. AFP journalists felt the shaking in Kabul, the capital, and in Islamabad, Pakistan. The quake was also felt in the northern Afghan provinces of Balkh and Badakhshan, near the border with Tajikistan, and in Swat in northern Pakistan, where residents ran from their homes in panic.
It was very big here in Swat and lasted quite a long time.
Tectonic setting
Afghanistan lies at the collision zone of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates, making earthquakes frequent (especially along the Hindu Kush mountain range). In August 2025, a magnitude 6 quake in eastern provinces killed more than 2,200 people and injured nearly 4,000. A magnitude 5.8 quake in Badakhshan in April 2026 killed 12 people. The deep depth of Saturday's quake (over 200 km) likely reduced surface shaking and damage potential, but shallow Afghan earthquakes often cause severe destruction.
Immediate response
No casualties or damage have been reported so far. Local emergency authorities said they are assessing structures. Authorities and medical services remain on alert as evaluations continue.
