List of earthquakes in Afghanistan

This is a list of earthquakes in Afghanistan. Fairly moderate earthquakes have been very destructive in the country, particularly during the 21st century. Much of the population resides in informal and adobe houses, which are vulnerable to earthquakes.

Tectonic setting Afghanistan is situated near the southern extent of the Eurasian plate.

Earthquakes Date Place Lat Lon Deaths Injuries MMI Comments 2025-11-03Balkh 36.589 67.484 31 1,156 6.2 2025-09-04Kunar 34.719 70.7912 41 5.6 Aftershock2025-08-31Kunar 34.519 70.7343,0004,0006.0 Extreme damage2023-10-07Herat 34.610 61.9241,4892,4446.3 Four earthquakes and aftershocks/Extreme damage.2023-03-21Badakhshan36.52370.979214246.5 Moderate damage, 21 deaths including 10 in Pakistan.2022-09-06Badakhshan36.64970.629694.8 Further damage 2022-09-04Kunar34.66270.70118425.1 Moderate damage2022-07-18Khost33.10869.470445.1 Additional damage / aftershock2022-06-24Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan33.01769.5385114.2 All deaths in Afghanistan / aftershock2022-06-21Khost33.09269.5141,1632,9766.2 Extreme damage/landslides2022-05-24Hindu Kush36.11870.293214.9 Minor damage2022-02-05Hindu Kush36.44571.11735.8 2022-01-17Badghis34.94663.58030495.3 2018-01-31Hindu Kush36.5470.822226.1 Mw 2016-04-10 Ishkashim 6286.6 Mw 2015-10-26 Hindu Kush 36.52 70.373992,5367.5 Mw 2013-04-24 Jalalabad-Mehtar Lam 34.53 70.22181305.6 Mw 2012-06-11 Baghlan 36.05 69.3075-5.4, 5.7 Doublet 2010-04-18 Samangan 35.71 67.6811-5.6 2009-10-22 Hindu Kush 36.52 70.955-6.2 2009-04-16 Near Kabul 34.19 70.0819515.2 Doublet 2005-12-12 Hindu Kush 36.28 71.11516.5 Mw 2002-03-25 Hindu Kush 35.93 69.192,0003,0006.1 Mw 2002-03-03 Hindu Kush 36.5 70.48166Some7.4 Mw 1999-02-11 Kabul 34.3 69.36705006.0 Mw 1998-05-30Takhar 37.1770.094,000–4,50010,0016.5 Mw1998-02-04Takhar 37.17 70.142,3238185.9 Mw1994-05-01Mazar-i-Sharif36.90167.1631603306.1 Severe damage1991-04-20 Badakhshan 36.416 70.9124.1 100 houses damaged1991-04-08 Badakhshan 37.457 68.273165.5 Moderate damage 1991-01-31 Hindu Kush 35.99 70.428482006.9 Mw Extreme damage 1990-07-13 Hindu Kush 36.415 70.7894326.4 Deaths due to avalanche in Tajikistan.1985-07-29 Hindu Kush 36.190 70.8965387.4 Severe damage in Pakistan and Tajikistan as well.1984-02-16 Hindu Kush 36.431 70.8264136.4 Severe damage1984-02-01 Nangarhar 34.616 70.4841356.1 Minor damage 1983-12-31 Hindu Kush 36.37 70.3412–2660–4837.2 Mb Severe damage 1982-12-16 Baghlan 36.148 69.011 450 Many6.6 Severe damage 1981-06-13 Samangan 36.176 67.827125.5 1956-09-16 Logar 33.997 69.6676.5 1956-06-09 Bamyan 35.155 67.607570–9002,000–2,5007.3 Widely felt across the country 1921-11-15 Hindu Kush 36.202 70.7117.8 1842-02-19 Jalalabad 34.4 70.5500 Severe damage818-05-15 Hindu Kush36.866.2Many7.5 Ms Severe damageNote: The inclusion criteria for adding events are based on WikiProject Earthquakes' notability guideline that was developed for stand alone articles. The principles described also apply to lists. In summary, only damaging, injurious, or deadly events should be recorded.

Gallery

See also Geology of Afghanistan

References

Sources

Further reading

Wheeler, Russell L. 2005. Seismotectonic Map of Afghanistan, with Annotated Bibliography [electronic Resource] / by Russell L. Wheeler ... [et Al.] ; Prepared Under the Auspices of the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey. Reston, Va: U.S. Dept. of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.