6.2-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Afghanistan, Tremors Felt Across Pakistan And India

A strong earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale struck Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region on Saturday evening, sending tremors across several neighbouring countries. According to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), the earthquake occurred at 7:04 pm IST at a depth of 215 kilometres.

Despite its significant magnitude, there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. The quake's deep focus meant that while it was felt across a wide geographical area, its impact on the surface was relatively limited.

Epicentre Located Near Kalafgan

Initial seismic reports placed the earthquake's epicentre around 81 kilometres from Kalafgan in northeastern Afghanistan.

The tremors were experienced not only in Afghanistan but also across Pakistan, northwest India, China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.

Residents in several areas reported feeling mild to moderate shaking, although authorities in the affected countries did not immediately report any major structural damage or injuries.

An earthquake of magnitude 6.2 on the Richter scale occured in Afghanistan: National Centre for Seismology pic.twitter.com/ObtVep7bdl

— ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2026

Why Was the Earthquake Felt Across So Many Countries?

The earthquake occurred at a depth of 215 kilometres, making it a deep-focus earthquake.

Seismologists explain that earthquakes occurring deep beneath the Earth's surface often spread seismic waves over much larger distances than shallow earthquakes. As a result, people across several countries were able to feel the tremors.

However, because much of the earthquake's energy dissipates before reaching the surface, deep earthquakes generally cause less destruction than shallow ones of similar magnitude.

A magnitude 6.2 earthquake is classified as a strong seismic event. Depending on its depth, location and the quality of local infrastructure, such earthquakes have the potential to cause significant damage. In this case, the considerable depth appears to have reduced its destructive impact.

Indian Subcontinent Witnesses Multiple Earthquakes

The Afghanistan earthquake comes amid a series of seismic events reported across the Indian subcontinent over the past 24 hours.

Earlier on Friday, a 3.2-magnitude earthquake struck Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district at 11:38 am IST.

According to the National Centre for Seismology, the shallow earthquake originated at a depth of 5 kilometres, with its epicentre located about 22 kilometres north-northwest of Dharamshala in the Himalayan region.

The tremor was classified as low intensity, and there were no reports of casualties or damage.

Pakistan Records Four Earthquakes in 24 Hours

Pakistan has also experienced heightened seismic activity over the past day.
According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), the country was shaken by four earthquakes within 24 hours.

The strongest tremor measured 5.5 in magnitude and struck at 8:36 am local time on Saturday.

The earthquake occurred at a depth of 40 kilometres, with its epicentre located in Balochistan province.

Authorities have not reported any casualties or significant damage from the series of earthquakes, and the EMSC has confirmed all four seismic events.

Why the Region Is Earthquake-Prone

Countries across South Asia and Central Asia frequently experience earthquakes because they lie along active tectonic plate boundaries.
Afghanistan, Pakistan and northern India are located near the collision zone of the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. The constant movement of these plates generates stress beneath the Earth's surface, which is periodically released in the form of earthquakes.

The Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan, in particular, is one of the world's most seismically active areas and regularly experiences both shallow and deep-focus earthquakes.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation, while disaster management agencies remain alert for any aftershocks or further seismic activity.