Afghanistan Earthquake: How Climate Change Is Adding Pressure To Tectonic Fault Lines

Afghanistan earthquake news today:Afghanistan is facing a worsening humanitarian crisis following a devastating 6.0-magnitude earthquake that hit its eastern provinces late Sunday. Another new 5.5-magnitude quake on Tuesday shook the already devastated areas again. The double calamities have killed over 1,400 individuals and injured over 3,100, with thousands more trapped under rubble of collapsed houses and mud buildings in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces.

UNICEF and World Vision have reported widespread destruction in the Chawki and Nurgal districts. Shortages of medical supplies and trained staff remain a concern, as Afghanistan’s healthcare system has struggled since foreign aid was cut off after the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Though, International organisations have begun mobilising assistance.

Why Afghanistan Experiences Frequent Earthquakes

Afghanistan's geographical position makes it one of the most seismically active parts of Asia. The nation sits atop the intersection of the Indian, Eurasian, and Arabian tectonic plates. As the Indian plate keeps pushing north, it can cause especially destructive quakes, with seismic waves hitting the surface fast and hard, like a sudden hammer strike. A recent study suggests the Indian plate is actually splitting and peeling under the Earth’s crust—like layers of bark coming loose. This process, also known as delamination, could heighten earthquake risks.

Tectonic shifts remain the leading cause of earthquakes, but researchers now link the recent tectonic activities to the unexpected effects of climate change. Glaciers across the Hindu Kush and Himalayas are melting fast, easing their weight on the Earth’s crust and subtly shifting the pressure deep below. Meltwater seeping into deep fault lines could be setting off quakes across Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northern India, like water dripping into a crack until the rock finally snaps.

Afghanistan has recorded nearly 100 damaging earthquakes since 1900. Some of the deadliest include:

• 1998: Two earthquakes in Takhar province within three months claimed over 7,000 lives.

• 2015: A 7.5-magnitude earthquake affected Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, causing nearly 400 deaths.

• 2022: A 6.0-magnitude earthquake in Paktika resulted in over 1,000 fatalities.

• 2023: A series of earthquakes in Herat province killed about 1,000 and destroyed villages.

ALSO READ: Afghanistan Jolted By Another Strong Earthquake After 1,400 Killed In Jalalabad

Areas Under Threat

Eastern and northeastern Afghanistan, particularly the Pakistani border provinces, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, are traditionally the most susceptible. Kabul, perched precariously on thin ground, is threatened with millions of dollars in annual losses from earthquakes. In the nation's rugged mountain belts, earthquakes often induce landslides, leveling villages and damming rivers. Aid workers point out that the Kunar and Nangarhar areas where recent quakes hit, have witnessed entire mud-brick structures collapsing in minutes.

ALSO READ: Afghanistan Earthquake Update: Death Toll Climbs To 1,124 As Tremors Devastate Villages; Taliban Warns Toll May Rise | PICS

With more than 23 million Afghans already relying on aid and foreign funds cut off, the country’s capacity to face natural disasters has been badly weakened, like a worn bridge straining under one more heavy load. The recent earthquake tore through towns, toppling walls and shattering windows, exposing just how fragile a nation already weighed down by political, economic, and social turmoil really is. As aftershocks continue to jolt the region, rescue workers fear the full scale of the disaster will only become clear in the next few days.