A powerful earthquake of 5.8 on the Richter scale hit Afghanistan on Saturday afternoon, triggering tremors in parts of northern India and Pakistan. The quake was at a depth of 130 kilometers, the National Center for Seismology (NCS) reported.
The epicenter was in Afghanistan, with latitudes 36.10 N and longitudes 71.20 E. The NCS posted the information on X: “EQ of M: 5.8, On: 19/04/2025 12:17:53 IST, Lat: 36.10 N, Long: 71.20 E, Depth: 130 Km, Location: Afghanistan.”
Shocks Experienced In India, Pak
Tremors were experienced in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and the Delhi-NCR area. The quake was experienced in major cities like Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, and in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.
“.I experienced the tremor. I was at the office when my chair trembled.” a local from Srinagar said to ANI, explaining the sudden shock.
The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) has said the origin of the quake was around the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border. No reports of casualties or damage have come in till now.
Prior Earthquakes On The Same Day
Earlier today on the same day, at 7:38 am, Assam’s Nagaon district experienced an earthquake of 2.9 on the scale. That was 10 km below the earth surface, according to NCS reports.
In a separate incident from February this year, a 4.0 magnitude earthquake struck Delhi at 5:36 am, with its epicenter located in Dhaula Kuan. Though the quake lasted only a few seconds, its shallow depth of 5 km caused it to be felt widely across the National Capital Region. Residents reported hearing loud noises during the tremor, prompting many to rush out of their homes.
Delhi’s Seismic Risks
Delhi falls under seismic zone IV, defined as a high-damage hazard area. Delhi is exposed to significant structural threats, with local municipal reports estimating that over 60% of buildings are aged more than 20 years. Additionally, over 75% of municipal-zone constructions are also found to breach building codes — in more than 1,799 unauthorised colonies among them.
The area is encircled by various fault lines like the Mathura Fault and Sohna Fault, making it more prone to seismic activity. Specialists also anticipate a greater, impending danger based on Delhi being near the Himalayas — a terrain created as a result of constant tectonic plate collusions. Ongoing geologic pressure could raise the chances of subsequent earthquakes.
Though earthquakes are impossible to predict, seismologists and city planners stress the need for preparedness and building safety to reduce the effects of impending seismic occurrences.
