Two Earthquakes Hit Afghanistan in Quick Succession

On Saturday morning, two consecutive earthquakes were felt in Afghanistan, with magnitudes of 4.2 and 4.5. According to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), the first earthquake occurred at 3:20 AM local time, with a magnitude of 4.5 and a depth of 100 kilometers.

The second earthquake followed just 15 minutes later, registering a magnitude of 4.2 on the Richter scale, and occurred at a depth of 150 kilometers. Both tremors were centered in the Ghazni province of Afghanistan. The earthquakes caused widespread panic among residents, many of whom rushed outside their homes reciting prayers. However, as of now, there have been no reports of casualties or significant damage.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has noted that Afghanistan is highly susceptible to natural disasters, including seasonal floods, landslides, and earthquakes. According to the Red Cross, Afghanistan has a history of powerful earthquakes, as the Hindu Kush mountain range is a seismically active region. The country sits between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, which creates multiple fault lines, including one that runs directly through Herat.