5.0 magnitude earthquake jolts Afghanistan as death toll in Sunday’s quake rises above 2200

Kabul: A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 5.0 on the Richter scale hit Afghanistan on Friday night. According to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), the epicentre of the earthquake was around 110 km east of the country’s capital city, Kabul. The depth of the quake was 10 km making it susceptible to aftershocks. It is to be noted that shallow seismic activities are alarming as these are more dangerous than deeper ones because the waves have to travel a shorter distance to reach the surface which results in major vibrations on the ground. These shakings cause more damage to structures and lead to greater casualties.

An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 struck Afghanistan at 10:55 pm. pic.twitter.com/ouZkXbyCoF

— ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2025

The latest seismic activity follows two quakes that hit the country since Sunday. The government run by the Taliban estimated 2,205 deaths and over 3,600 injuries by Thursday.

The Friday earthquake that hit the South Asian country, crushed by war, poverty and shrinking aid was of 5.4 magnitude. It had a depth of 10 km.

A third seismic activity of magnitude 5.5 on Tuesday interrupted rescue efforts.

Most of the houses built of dry masonry, stone, and timber severely damaged from the powerful tremors. Some people preferred to stay in the open as a precaution against aftershocks.

The first powerful earthquake of magnitude 6 on the Richter scale hit the country. It was one of the deadliest quakes that Afghanistan has witnessed. Tremors, which had a depth of 10 km, devastated Nangarhar and Kunar.

Notably, quakes predominantly occur in the Hindu Kush mountain region, where the India(BHARAT)n and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.

(Note: This is a developing story and further details will be added.)