Afghanistan earthquake of magnitude 4.9 felt in Kashmir

Earthquake hits Afghanistan

A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck northern Afghanistan in the early hours of Monday, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS). The tremor was recorded at 1:57:24 am IST and originated 220 km below the surface.

Tremors felt in Kashmir

The seismic waves travelled north‑west across the border, where residents of several pockets in Kashmir reported a brief, gentle vibration just before 2 am. The shaking was described as light; no one reported severe jolts or structural damage.

No casualties or damage

Both Afghan and Kashmiri authorities said there were no immediate reports of injuries, fatalities or property loss. Emergency services in the region remained on standby, but the deep‑focus nature of the quake meant that most of the energy dissipated before reaching the surface.

Technical details

The NCS gave the quake’s epicentre as 36.602° N, 71.084° E, roughly 73 km southeast of Fayzabad, the capital of Badakhshan Province. Because the event occurred at a depth greater than 200 km, the centre classified it as a reviewed seismic occurrence – a standard label for earthquakes that have been examined and verified by seismologists.

What’s next?

Seismologists note that deep‑focus earthquakes tend to generate lower aftershock activity than shallow events, so the risk of a major aftershock is considered low. Local authorities will continue to monitor the situation, but no further alerts have been issued.

The quake underscores how even modest‑magnitude, deep‑focus events can be felt across borders, reminding residents of the region that the Earth's crust remains restless.