Six in 24 hours: Series of earthquakes hit Afghanistan; days after quake killed over 2,000

NEW DELHI: Afghanistan was jolted by three back-to-back earthquakes on Friday morning, measuring 4.9, 5.2 and 4.6 in magnitude, near the Hindukush mountain range close to the country’s border with Pakistan.

With these shocks, the total number of quakes recorded in the past 24 hours has risen to six.

EQ of M: 4.6, On: 05/09/2025 07:46:52 IST, Lat: 34.66 N, Long: 70.71 E, Depth: 180 Km, Location: Afghanistan.
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— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) September 5, 2025

The fresh tremors come on the heels of a major earthquake earlier this month that claimed more than 2,200 lives across Afghanistan.

EQ of M: 5.2, On: 05/09/2025 07:00:06 IST, Lat: 34.51 N, Long: 70.58 E, Depth: 140 Km, Location: Afghanistan.
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— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) September 5, 2025

Sharing details on X, the NCS said: "EQ of M: 4.9, On: 05/09/2025 03:16:43 IST, Lat: 34.57 N, Long: 70.42 E, Depth: 120 Km, Location: Afghanistan."

EQ of M: 4.9, On: 05/09/2025 03:16:43 IST, Lat: 34.57 N, Long: 70.42 E, Depth: 120 Km, Location: Afghanistan.
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— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) September 4, 2025

These shocks followed two earlier earthquakes that rattled the region on Thursday night — a 5.8 magnitude tremor at 10:26 PM and a 4.1 magnitude quake at 11:58 PM, according to the NCS.

• "EQ of M: 5.8, On: 04/09/2025 22:26:29 IST, Lat: 34.58 N, Long: 70.66 E, Depth: 160 Km, Location: Afghanistan."
  
  
  

  EQ of M: 5.8, On: 04/09/2025 22:26:29 IST, Lat: 34.58 N, Long: 70.66 E, Depth: 160 Km, Location: Afghanistan.
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  — National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) September 4, 2025

  
  
• "EQ of M: 4.1, On: 04/09/2025 23:58:28 IST, Lat: 34.60 N, Long: 70.50 E, Depth: 50 Km, Location: Afghanistan."

EQ of M: 4.1, On: 04/09/2025 23:58:28 IST, Lat: 34.60 N, Long: 70.50 E, Depth: 50 Km, Location: Afghanistan.
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— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) September 4, 2025

Another quake of 4.8 magnitude struck Afghanistan Thursday morning near the same region, close to border with Pakistan.

EQ of M: 4.8, On: 04/09/2025 10:40:56 IST, Lat: 34.38 N, Long: 70.37 E, Depth: 135 Km, Location: Afghanistan.
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— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) September 4, 2025

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) has dispatched emergency aid to Afghanistan ’s Kunar and Nangarhar provinces, where the quakes have killed more than 1,400 people and injured over 3,000, Khaama Press reported. Initial consignments include food supplies and high-energy biscuits, with more flights scheduled to bring additional aid and personnel.

The WFP noted that many affected communities were already reeling from recent flash floods, and deteriorating weather conditions risk worsening the humanitarian crisis.

Describing the destruction, WFP regional director Harald Mannhardt said: "Homes reduced to rubble, roads destroyed, landslides everywhere, and tragically, lives lost."

Rescue operations remain difficult due to blocked roads, rugged terrain, and repeated aftershocks.

On Tuesday, India also extended support. External affairs minister S Jaishankar, in a post on X, confirmed that 21 tonnes of relief materials had been airlifted to Kabul.

These included blankets, tents, hygiene kits, water storage tanks, generators, kitchen utensils, portable water purifiers, sleeping bags, essential medicines, wheelchairs, hand sanitisers, water purification tablets, ORS solutions, and medical consumables.