Kabul [Afghanistan], April 27 : An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 struck Afghanistan on Monday, a statement by the National Center for Seismology (NCS) said.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 95km.
In a post on X, NCS said, "EQ of M: 4.4, On: 27/04/2026 03:24:40 IST, Lat: 36.109 N, Long: 68.738 E, Depth: 95 Km, Location: Afghanistan."
{{{{twitter_post_id####EQ of M: 4.4, On: 27/04/2026 03:24:40 IST, Lat: 36.109 N, Long: 68.738 E, Depth: 95 Km, Location: Afghanistan.
For more information Download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/5gCOtjdtw0 @DrJitendraSingh @OfficeOfDrJS @Ravi_MoES @GSuresh_NCS @ndmaindia pic.twitter.com/QGEl801NqE
— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) April 26, 2026
Earlier on April 22, another earthquake of magnitude 4.0 struck the region at a shallow depth of 10km, making it susceptible to aftershocks.
In a post on X, NCS said, "EQ of M: 4.0, On: 22/04/2026 08:38:25 IST, Lat: 36.612 N, Long: 72.048 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Afghanistan."
}}}}EQ of M: 4.0, On: 22/04/2026 08:38:25 IST, Lat: 36.612 N, Long: 72.048 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Afghanistan.
For more information Download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/5gCOtjdtw0 @DrJitendraSingh @OfficeOfDrJS @Ravi_MoES @GSuresh_NCS @ndmaindia pic.twitter.com/T2kYVjlXsw
— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) April 22, 2026
Shallow earthquakes are generally more dangerous than deep earthquakes. This is because the seismic waves from shallow earthquakes have a shorter distance to travel to the surface, resulting in stronger ground shaking and potentially more damage to structures and greater casualties.
Earthquakes can occur anywhere between the Earth's surface and about 700 kilometres below the surface. For scientific purposes, this earthquake depth range of 0 - 700 km is divided into three zones: shallow, intermediate, and deep, as per USGS data.
Shallow earthquakes are between 0 and 70 km deep; intermediate earthquakes, 70 - 300 km deep; and deep earthquakes, 300 - 700 km deep. In general, the term "deep-focus earthquakes" is applied to earthquakes deeper than 70 km, the USGS states.
Afghanistan frequently experiences earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush region, which lies in a highly active seismic zone, according to the Red Cross.
Afghanistan's vulnerability to earthquakes is linked to its location along the collision zone between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. A major fault line also passes through parts of the country, including the Herat region.
The United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) notes that Afghanistan remains extremely vulnerable to natural disasters, including earthquakes, landslides and seasonal flooding. Repeated tremors worsen the situation for communities already struggling with decades of conflict and limited development, leaving them with minimal resilience to withstand multiple shocks.
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