A 5.44-magnitude earthquake struck the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan early Thursday, according to data from the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences.
The earthquake occurred at approximately 1:29 GMT, or 6:59 am local time, with its epicentre initially identified at around 36.05 degrees north latitude and 68.87 degrees east longitude. The tremor originated at a depth of approximately 10 kilometres, making it a relatively shallow earthquake.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage following the tremor.
The Hindu Kush is among the world’s seismically active areas, with earthquakes occurring at varying depths across the broader mountain region. The seismic activity is associated with the ongoing collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, which has contributed to frequent earthquakes across the Himalayan and Hindu Kush mountain systems.
The relatively shallow depth of the latest earthquake is significant because tremors occurring closer to the Earth’s surface can generate stronger shaking near the epicentre than deeper earthquakes of a similar magnitude.
The region has experienced numerous earthquakes in recent years, including both moderate and deeper seismic events recorded by international and regional monitoring agencies
