A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 5.8 struck Afghanistan on Thursday, with tremors being felt across Jammu and Kashmir in India. According to the National Center for Seismology, the earthquake occurred at 4:20 PM IST, originating from an epicentre located at a latitude of 36.49 degrees north and longitude of 71.27 degrees east, at a depth of 165 kilometres.
The National Center for Seismology confirmed the details of the earthquake on their social media platform X, stating: “EQ of M: 5.8, On: 28/11/2024 16:19:00 IST, Lat: 36.49 N, Long: 71.27 E, Depth: 165 Km, Location: Afghanistan.”
No Damage Reported in Kashmir
Officials from Jammu and Kashmir reported that there were no immediate accounts of casualties or damage to property in the region. Local authorities assured residents that the situation was under control, despite the tremors causing panic among some inhabitants.
Tremors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Region
In neighbouring Pakistan, a 5.2 magnitude earthquake shook the northwestern regions, including parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The Seismological Centre reported that the quake’s epicentre was located near the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border, at a depth of 212 kilometres.
Tremors were felt in areas such as Peshawar, North Waziristan, Malakand, Lower Dir, and the Neelum Valley. Despite the panic it caused, local officials confirmed that there were no reports of casualties or significant damage to infrastructure.
This marks the second earthquake in a month for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. Two weeks earlier, a 4.1 magnitude earthquake was recorded in Mingora and surrounding areas, with its epicentre also traced to the Afghanistan-Tajikistan region.
South Asia: A Seismically Active Zone
South Asia frequently experiences earthquakes due to its position on the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Indian plate is steadily pushing northward into the Eurasian plate, making the region prone to seismic activity.
Pakistan, in particular, lies in a high-risk seismic zone. The country has experienced several devastating earthquakes in the past, including the catastrophic 2005 earthquake that claimed over 74,000 lives.
As residents of the affected areas in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India remain on high alert, authorities have reiterated the importance of preparedness in these quake-prone regions.
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