Magnitude 5.5 earthquake strikes Afghanistan, no immediate reports of damage
Strong tremors are frequently felt across Afghanistan's mountainous northeast, where earthquakes can also be experienced in neighbouring Pakistan and parts of Central Asia.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck near Jurm in northeastern Afghanistan on Wednesday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The earthquake struck at a depth of 216.7 kilometres (134.65 miles), making it a relatively deep quake that may have reduced the intensity of shaking at the surface.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
Jurm is located in Afghanistan's mountainous Badakhshan province, a region that experiences frequent seismic activity because it lies near the collision zone of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Afghanistan is among the world's most earthquake-prone countries. Earthquakes are common in the Hindu Kush mountain range, where deep tremors are often felt across Afghanistan, Pakistan and parts of Central Asia.
The country's rugged terrain, weak infrastructure and remote mountain villages make rescue and relief operations especially challenging after major quakes.
The latest tremor comes less than a year after one of Afghanistan's deadliest earthquakes in recent years. In September 2025, a powerful magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, killing more than 800 people initially. As rescue teams reached remote areas, the death toll rose to more than 2,200, while at least 2,800 people were injured, according to Taliban authorities and Reuters.
Afghanistan has also endured several devastating earthquakes in recent years. In October 2023, a series of powerful earthquakes near Herat in western Afghanistan killed more than 2,000 people and injured thousands, making it one of the country's deadliest natural disasters in decades.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck near Jurm in northeastern Afghanistan on Wednesday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The earthquake struck at a depth of 216.7 kilometres (134.65 miles), making it a relatively deep quake that may have reduced the intensity of shaking at the surface.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
Jurm is located in Afghanistan's mountainous Badakhshan province, a region that experiences frequent seismic activity because it lies near the collision zone of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Afghanistan is among the world's most earthquake-prone countries. Earthquakes are common in the Hindu Kush mountain range, where deep tremors are often felt across Afghanistan, Pakistan and parts of Central Asia.
The country's rugged terrain, weak infrastructure and remote mountain villages make rescue and relief operations especially challenging after major quakes.
The latest tremor comes less than a year after one of Afghanistan's deadliest earthquakes in recent years. In September 2025, a powerful magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, killing more than 800 people initially. As rescue teams reached remote areas, the death toll rose to more than 2,200, while at least 2,800 people were injured, according to Taliban authorities and Reuters.
Afghanistan has also endured several devastating earthquakes in recent years. In October 2023, a series of powerful earthquakes near Herat in western Afghanistan killed more than 2,000 people and injured thousands, making it one of the country's deadliest natural disasters in decades.
