6.1 magnitude earthquake shakes Afghanistan and Tajikistan
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan and Tajikistan, shaking cities such as Faizabad and Dushanbe.
The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) reported that a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck the border region between Afghanistan and Tajikistan on Sunday, April 13.
According to reports, the earthquake occurred at 08:54 AM local time, with its epicenter located at a depth of 10 kilometers. Some sources have identified the epicenter near Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province, although its exact coordinates remain unclear.
The quake was felt in various areas, including the city of Faizabad—Badakhshan’s provincial capital—and Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. Initial reports also indicate that the tremor was sensed in parts of Uzbekistan and northern Pakistan, though the intensity in those areas was relatively mild.
As of the time of writing, no official reports of casualties or significant financial damages have been released. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Disaster Management of Afghanistan stated that assessment teams have been dispatched to areas near the epicenter, particularly in Badakhshan province, to evaluate the situation.
In Tajikistan, local authorities have similarly reported no major damage so far, but monitoring continues in mountainous regions. The country’s Ministry of Emergency Situations has initiated surveillance of border zones and urged residents to remain alert for possible aftershocks.
Despite frequent seismic activity in the region, Afghanistan remains largely unprepared for natural disasters due to poor infrastructure, limited emergency response capacity, and lack of public awareness. These vulnerabilities often result in high human and financial losses when disasters strike.
This latest earthquake serves as a reminder of the urgent need for Afghanistan to invest in disaster risk reduction strategies, strengthen building codes, and enhance early warning systems. Without these measures, the population remains at high risk, especially in remote and mountainous provinces like Badakhshan.
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