Moderate Earthquake Strikes Northeastern Afghanistan
A moderate earthquake struck parts of northeastern Afghanistan on the morning of Friday, December 18. The tremor occurred at 10:09 a.m. local time but no casualties or significant damage have been reported so far.
According to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake had a magnitude of 5.3 and originated at a depth of 35 kilometers. The agency stated that the epicenter was located about 25 kilometers from Nahrin district in Baghlan province.
Meanwhile, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre reported a slightly higher magnitude of 5.6 and said the epicenter was situated 50 kilometers south of Taloqan, the capital of Takhar province. Both agencies emphasized the shallow depth of the earthquake.
Due to its relatively shallow depth, the tremors were felt more strongly in areas close to the epicenter. Residents in the cities of Taloqan, Khan Abad, Nahrin, Farkhar, Baghlan, and several nearby villages reported sensing the shaking.
Afghanistan lies within a seismically active zone and regularly experiences earthquakes. These events often raise concerns among residents due to the country’s lack of earthquake-resistant infrastructure.
