M5.9 earthquake hits Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan

A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M5.9 hit the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan at 14:25 UTC on January 5, 2023. The agency is reporting a depth of 193.8 km (120.4 miles). EMSC reports M5.9 at a depth of 195 km (121.2 miles).

The epicenter was located 43.1 km (26.8 miles) SSW of Jurm (population 12 106), 70.3 km (43.7 miles) S of Fayzabad (population 44 421), and 75.9 km (47.2 miles) E of Farkhār (population 10 480), Afghanistan.

3 630 000 people are estimated to have felt light shaking and 11 215 000 weak.

The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.

Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are adobe block and log construction.

Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides and liquefaction that might have contributed to losses.

According to locals, the quake lasted about 30 to 40 seconds.

Close to the epicenter in the northern province of Badakhshan the tremors were “very strong” and authorities were verifying whether they had caused any damage or casualties, provincial official Mahzudden Ahmadi told Reuters.¹

There were no immediate reports of casualties, however.

Shaking was reported in the capital Kabul, in parts of northwestern Pakistan, and as far away as New Delhi.

Regional seismicity

References:

¹ Magnitude 5.8 earthquake shakes Afghanistan, region – Reuters – January 5, 2023

Featured image credit: TW/SAM, Google