A 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck northeastern Afghanistan on Friday, shaking Takhar and nearby provinces, with no immediate reports of casualties or major damage, officials said.
A 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck northeastern Afghanistan on Friday morning, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC).
No immediate reports of serious damage or casualties were received, though local authorities said damage assessments were ongoing.
The quake occurred at 10:09 a.m. local time, with its epicentre located about 50 kilometres south of Taloqan, the capital of Takhar province, the centre said.
EMSC reported the earthquake occurred at a depth of 35 kilometres, making it relatively shallow and causing strong shaking near the epicentre.
Residents said the tremor was felt across several areas, including Taloqan, Khanabad, Nahrin, Farkhar, Baghlan city and surrounding villages, with people briefly leaving their homes in fear.
Afghanistan lies along active seismic fault lines and has experienced repeated earthquakes, including deadly tremors in Kunar and Samangan provinces in recent months that caused fatalities, injuries and damage to homes.
Beyond earthquakes, the country also faces recurring floods, landslides and extreme weather, with seasonal flooding in provinces such as Baghlan and Ghor displacing thousands, underscoring Afghanistan’s vulnerability to natural disasters.
