Afghanistan Earthquake 2025: 800 Dead, Why Quake Was So Deadly

Afghanistan Earthquake 2025: 800 Dead, Why Quake Was So Deadly

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A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck northeast Afghanistan, killing 800+. Know why the quake was so deadly and why Afghanistan faces frequent earthquakes.

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Afghanistan Earthquake 2025: 800 Dead, Why the Quake Was So Deadly

New Delhi | September 1, 2025

A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck north-east Afghanistan on Sunday night (August 31), leaving over 800 dead and more than 2,000 injured. The epicentre was located 27 km northeast of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province at a depth of just 8 km, making the quake particularly destructive.

Why was this earthquake so deadly?

Experts point to three main factors:

Shallow depth (8 km): Shallow quakes release more energy on the surface, causing greater destruction.
Magnitude impact: Each unit increase in magnitude represents a 32x jump in energy release, according to USGS.
Fragile infrastructure: Many homes in Afghanistan are made of mud and brick, which collapse easily during tremors.

Afghanistan’s earthquake-prone geography

Afghanistan lies at the collision zone of the Indian and Eurasian plates, where tectonic activity is extremely high. With the Indian plate moving 45 mm annually, this region contributes to nearly 15% of global seismic energy release.

Past deadly earthquakes in Afghanistan

2023: Three quakes in Herat killed nearly 1,300 people and injured 1,700.
2022: A 5.9-magnitude quake in the southeast killed at least 1,300 people.
Since 1900: The Hindu Kush region has seen 12 quakes above magnitude 7.

Expert insight

Brian Baptie, seismologist at the British Geological Survey, notes that Afghanistan remains one of the most seismically active regions in the world, making earthquake preparedness a critical challenge.