September 1, 2025

expert reaction to earthquake in Afghanistan

Scientists comment on a 6.0 magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan. 

Dr Brian Baptie, Seismologist at British Geological Survey, said:

“The force behind this latest earthquake is the same one that has led to the formation the Himalayas, the Karakoram and the Tibetan Plateau – the collision of the India and Eurasia plates.

“With India moving towards Eurasia at around 45 mm each year, this collision zone is one of the most seismically active regions of the Earth – accounting for around 15% of all seismic energy released around the world each year.

“This is an area of very high seismic hazard, with regular earthquake activity spreading across complex fault systems distributed over a wide region.

“Due to its position, Afghanistan has faced a history of destructive earthquakes – with many of the largest taking place in Hindu Kush region of northeast Afghanistan, where there have been 12 earthquakes with magnitudes of greater than seven since 1900.

“Other regions of Afghanistan, including the east and southeast also experience numerous earthquakes.

“This scale of the seismic activity, the potential for multi-hazard events and the construction of structures in the region can combine to create significant loss of life in such events.

“Notable examples include a magnitude 6.0 southeast Afghanistan in 2022, which killed over 1,000 people and triggered landslides, in 2023 a series of four large earthquakes, each with magnitude 6.3 in Herat Province, western Afghanistan killed around 1,500 people, and in 2005 a magnitude 7.6 earthquake near Muzaffarabad in Kashmir, which killed at least 76,000 people.”

Declared interests

Dr Brian Baptie: No COIs