A magnitude 6.2 earthquake [1] struck Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region on Saturday, sending tremors across northern India and Pakistan.
The quake occurred in a region known for seismic activity, affecting millions of people across multiple borders and triggering emergency responses in remote mountainous areas.
The epicenter was located approximately 43 km south of Jurm in northeastern Afghanistan [3]. While some reports listed the magnitude as 5.9 [4], other sources identified the quake as a 6.2 [1].
Strong tremors were reported in several Indian regions, including Delhi-NCR, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Chandigarh, and Himachal [3]. Residents in these areas reported feeling the shaking, though reports on the extent of the damage vary significantly between sources.
One report indicated that at least 800 people died and 1,300 were injured [5]. However, other reports stated that no damage had been reported [3].
Zabihullah Mujahid said, "Local officials and residents are currently engaged in rescue efforts for the affected people."
Rescue operations continue in the Hindu Kush region as officials work to verify the total number of casualties and the scale of infrastructure damage. The rugged terrain near Jurm often complicates the delivery of aid and the assessment of impact following such seismic events.
“A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region on Saturday.”
The discrepancy in casualty reports—ranging from no reported damage to hundreds of deaths—highlights the extreme difficulty of gathering real-time data from the remote Hindu Kush region. Because the earthquake was felt across the borders of Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan, the event underscores the regional vulnerability to seismic activity in the Himalayan and Hindu Kush belts.
