Reuters: Eastern Afghanistan Among Deadliest Earthquake-Prone Regions

DID Press: Reuters highlighted eastern Afghanistan as one of the most earthquake-prone areas on the planet, publishing an analytical map based on data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The map marks every earthquake of magnitude 5.0 or greater since 1950, showing dense clusters in the Hindu Kush mountains and surrounding areas, indicating repeated and severe seismic activity. Reuters noted that the ongoing collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates is the primary driver of these tremors, which have historically caused major human disasters in the region.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned active faults such as Chaman, Harirud, Central Badakhshan, and Darwaz rank among Afghanistan’s most dangerous seismic zones. According to OCHA, there is more than a 20 percent chance of a magnitude 7–8 earthquake along the Chaman fault within the next 50 years. Major cities including Kabul, Jalalabad, Herat, and Badakhshan are at risk.

Herat has already experienced repeated quakes, including a 6.3-magnitude earthquake in 2023 that caused heavy damage, demonstrating that even previously low-risk faults can trigger deadly disasters. Over the past decade, more than 600,000 people in Afghanistan have been affected by earthquakes, with an average of 188 fatalities annually. In severe cases, such as the 2022 quake in Paktika and Khost, casualties exceeded 1,000 dead and 1,500 injured.

The most recent earthquake, a magnitude 6.0 tremor on August 31, 2025, struck eastern Afghanistan, leaving at least 2,205 dead and more than 3,394 injured.