Pakistan and Afghanistan were hit by a series of moderate quakes during the first week of May, according to records of the National Center for Seismology (NCS). The quakes, all of comparatively shallow depth, have raised eyebrows among citizens and seismologists regarding potential aftershocks and local seismic activity.
Magnitude 4.2 Earthquake Hits Pakistan
A 4.2 earthquake hit Pakistan at about 4 PM on Monday, said the NCS. The earthquake had a depth of 10 kilometres. The NCS reported the epicentre as latitude 36.60°N and longitude 72.89°E. There were no reports of damage or casualties immediately.
Shallow quakes such as this one, though of moderate magnitude, tend to be able to produce major ground shaking since the energy is being released nearer the surface.
Afghanistan Shaken by Back-to-Back Quakes
Earlier today, on Monday, the country experienced a similar earthquake measuring 4.2 in magnitude. The NCS indicated that the earthquake had hit at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres, putting the area at risk of possible aftershocks. In an X, formerly Twitter, post, the NCS reported, “EQ of M: 4.2, On: 05/05/2025 12:35:23 IST, Lat: 36.60 N, Long: 71.91 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Afghanistan.”
EQ of M: 4.2, On: 05/05/2025 16:00:05 IST, Lat: 36.60 N, Long: 72.89 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Pakistan.
For more information Download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/5gCOtjdtw0 @DrJitendraSingh @OfficeOfDrJS @Ravi_MoES @Dr_Mishra1966 @ndmaindia pic.twitter.com/c3YMJ0e3TQ— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) May 5, 2025
The timing and closeness of the quake to the Pakistan shock raised questions regarding linked seismic activity in the region.
Afghanistan Hit by More Than One Quake During Weekend
Afghanistan has witnessed a series of quakes in recent days. On Saturday, May 3, the region was hit by a 4.3 magnitude quake. The NCS said it happened at a depth of 15 kilometres, with coordinates indicating latitude 36.52°N and longitude 71.20°E. The agency tweeted, “EQ of M: 4.3, On: 03/05/2025 13:20:36 IST, Lat: 36.52 N, Long: 71.20 E, Depth: 15 Km, Location: Afghanistan.”
Complementing the seismicity, a magnitude 4.5 earthquake hit Afghanistan on Friday, as notified by the National Center for Seismology. Although information about the exact location and depth was not available earlier, the sequence of ongoing tremors has escalated alert levels across the region.
Shallow earthquakes, which are generally those with depths below 70 kilometres, have a greater tendency to result in surface-level damage and have the potential to induce landslides in mountainous regions.
No serious damage or fatalities have been reported by authorities in either country so far, although the monitoring is ongoing due to the possibility of aftershocks.
