Afghanistan Earthquake 2025: Causes, Impact, and Lessons for Seismic Resilience

Why in the News?

1. On the night of August 31, 2025, a 0 magnitude earthquake struck north-east Afghanistan, with its epicenter located 27 km northeast of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province.
2. The quake occurred at a shallow depth of 8 kilometres, which amplified its destructive power.
3. The earthquake has already claimed the lives of more than 800 people and left over 2,000 injured, in addition to destroying numerous villages and displacing thousands.
4. This disaster comes on the heels of a series of devastating earthquakes in Afghanistan in recent years, such as the Herat earthquakes in 2023 that killed nearly 1,300 people, and the 2022 quake in the southeast region that also caused over 1,300 deaths.
5. Together, these events underline Afghanistan’s perennial vulnerability to earthquakes.

Key Highlights

1. Details of the 2025 Earthquake
   6. The earthquake had a magnitude of 6.0, which is considered a strong quake.
   7. Its epicentre was in Nangarhar province, close to Jalalabad, an area with a high population density.
   8. The quake’s shallow depth of just 8 km ensured that most of the seismic energy directly reached the surface, causing widespread destruction.
   9. The tremors resulted in over 800 fatalities and more than 2,000 injuries, while thousands were rendered homeless.
2. Scientific Understanding of Earthquakes
   1. Earthquakes occur when two tectonic blocks slip past each other, releasing accumulated strain energy.
   2. This sudden release produces seismic waves that shake the ground violently.
   3. The point underground where the earthquake originates is called the hypocentre, while the point directly above it on the Earth’s surface is the epicentre.
   4. The strength of the shaking depends on both the magnitude of the quake and its depth beneath the surface.
3. Significance of Earthquake Depth
   1. Shallow earthquakes (0–70 km) are generally the most destructive, as they carry more energy directly to the Earth’s surface.
   2. In contrast, deeper earthquakes lose energy while travelling upward, although they are felt over wider geographical areas.
   3. The 2025 Afghanistan quake was shallow, which explains the severe damage despite being of moderate magnitude.
4. Magnitude and Energy Release
   1. The magnitude of an earthquake measures the size of the seismic waves, while the energy released reflects its destructive capacity.
   2. According to the USGS, each increase of one whole number in magnitude means a tenfold increase in wave amplitude and 32 times greater energy release.
   3. For example, a magnitude 6 quake releases 32 times more energy than a magnitude 5 quake. This exponential increase explains why even a one-point jump in magnitude can cause vastly greater destruction.
5. Why Afghanistan is Prone to Earthquakes
   1. Afghanistan lies in a highly active seismic zone, located at the collision point of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.
   2. The Indian Plate moves northward at around 45 millimetres per year, continuously colliding with the Eurasian Plate.
   3. This collision creates immense geological stress, which gets released in the form of frequent earthquakes.
   4. Since 1900, Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region alone has experienced 12 earthquakes of magnitude above 7, making it one of the most earthquake-prone areas in the world.
   5. Past disasters, including the 2022 and 2023 earthquakes, further demonstrate the recurring seismic threat Afghanistan faces.

Implications

1. Humanitarian Consequences
   1. The 2025 earthquake has caused immense loss of life and widespread injuries, with hospitals struggling to cope with the sudden influx of patients.
   2. Thousands of homes, mostly built from mud-brick and lacking structural resilience, collapsed instantly, leaving survivors without shelter.
   3. Vulnerable groups such as children, women, and the elderly face heightened risks of malnutrition, disease, and trauma.
2. Geological Significance
   1. The quake reinforces the understanding that Afghanistan lies in one of the most seismically active regions globally.
   2. It demonstrates that shallow quakes in tectonic collision zones can cause disproportionate destruction even when their magnitude is moderate.
   3. Scientists stress that the Himalayan collision zone, which stretches from Afghanistan to Nepal and northern India, will continue to witness high seismic activity in the coming decades.
3. Economic and Social Fallout
   1. The destruction of houses, farmlands, and public infrastructure imposes a heavy economic burden on a country already struggling with poverty.
   2. Displacement of people leads to internal migration and overcrowded camps, where living conditions are extremely poor.
   3. The disaster further deepens unemployment, disrupts education, and widens inequality between affected and unaffected regions.
4. Governance and Political Implications
   1. Afghanistan’s fragile governance structure, compounded by political instability, limits its ability to mount an effective response.
   2. Disaster management is largely dependent on foreign aid, international NGOs, and UN agencies, raising questions of sustainability and sovereignty.
   3. Weak institutional capacity hampers coordinated relief distribution, often leading to delays and unequal access to aid.
5. Regional and Global Lessons
   1. The earthquake highlights the shared seismic vulnerability of South Asia, which lies across the Himalayan belt.
   2. It calls for regional cooperation in scientific research, seismic monitoring, and sharing of disaster-management best practices.
   3. Globally, the tragedy underlines the need to invest in early warning systems, earthquake-resistant construction, and humanitarian preparedness in developing countries prone to seismic risks.

Challenges and Way Forward

Conclusion

The 2025 Afghanistan earthquake is a tragic reminder of the country’s geographical and socio-political vulnerabilities. Its shallow depth and location in a tectonically active collision zone made the disaster exceptionally deadly. Beyond the immediate humanitarian toll, the quake has exposed Afghanistan’s fragile infrastructure, limited healthcare system, and weak disaster preparedness. To prevent future tragedies of this scale, Afghanistan requires a comprehensive approach that combines earthquake-resistant infrastructure, effective early warning systems, community awareness, and sustained international cooperation. Without such long-term resilience measures, Afghanistan will remain dangerously exposed to recurring seismic disasters.