A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck Afghanistan’s northeastern province of Badakhshan early Wednesday, with tremors felt in parts of the country, including Kabul, according to the US Geological Survey.
The earthquake was centred about 35 kilometres southwest of Jorm district at a depth of roughly 195 kilometres, according to the information provided in the initial report. There were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage.
The earthquake came only hours after another tremor was reported in Herat province in western Afghanistan, where residents in the provincial capital reportedly left their homes as the shaking was felt across the city. The extent of damage from the Herat earthquake was not immediately clear.
Afghanistan remains highly exposed to natural disasters
The latest earthquakes come as Afghanistan continues to face repeated natural disasters, including earthquakes, floods, landslides and severe winter conditions. The scale of these emergencies is particularly challenging for a country already dealing with a prolonged humanitarian and economic crisis.
Data compiled by humanitarian agencies show that natural disasters affected more than 97,000 people across all 34 Afghanistan provinces between January 2 and August 3, 2026.
Afghanistan is also one of the countries most exposed to seismic hazards, particularly in the Hindu Kush region. Previous major earthquakes have demonstrated how quickly remote communities can become isolated and how difficult it can be to assess damage and deliver emergency assistance in mountainous areas.
The 2025 earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, for example, caused significant casualties and damage, while rescue and relief operations were complicated by difficult terrain, damaged infrastructure and limited resources.
Concerns over disaster preparedness
The repeated emergencies have also highlighted Afghanistan’s need for a stronger and better-coordinated disaster-management system. Humanitarian organisations have increasingly focused on preparedness, early warning, pre-positioning of emergency supplies and strengthening local response capacity rather than relying solely on assistance after disasters occur.
Afghanistan faces frequent and potentially devastating natural hazards while its communities and humanitarian system remain under severe pressure.
Authorities and humanitarian organisations have yet to provide a full assessment of possible damage from Wednesday’s earthquakes. Given the depth and location of the Badakhshan quake, further information from provincial authorities and seismological agencies will be needed to determine its impact.
