Afghanistan Earthquake Hindu Kush Quake Earthquake Pakistan Kabul Disaster Earthquake Alert — Rescue workers and frightened residents gather on the streets of Kabul after a strong earthquake shook the city on Friday night, leaving families in shock and mourning.

Deadly earthquake of magnitude 5.9 strikes Afghanistan, leaving eight dead

A 5.9 magnitude quake deep in Afghanistan's Hindu Kush shook cities across Pakistan, India and Afghanistan, killing eight and sending tremors through millions of lives on a quiet Friday evening.

By Fahad On Apr 4, 2026

Afghanistan – (Web Desk) – A powerful earthquake struck Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region on Friday evening, tragically claiming eight lives and leaving one child injured after a house collapsed in Kabul. The National Disaster Management Authority confirmed the heartbreaking losses.

The earthquake, measuring 5.9 in magnitude, rumbled deep beneath the earth at a depth of around 177 to 190 kilometres, according to both the German Research Centre for Geosciences and Pakistan’s Meteorological Department. The tremors were recorded at 9:13pm Pakistan Standard Time, with the epicentre pinpointed in the Hindu Kush region.

The shockwaves traveled far and wide, with people in major cities like Islamabad, Kabul, and even New Delhi feeling the ground shake beneath their feet. Closer to the epicentre, residents across several Pakistani cities — including Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Multan, Taxila, Faisalabad, and Murree — also experienced strong tremors.

The quake was widely felt across Punjab as well, reaching cities such as Sargodha, Jhelum, Chakwal, Narowal, Mianwali, Chiniot, Bhakkar, Hafizabad, Khanewal, Mandi Bahauddin, and Kamalia. Fortunately, no significant damage or casualties were reported in Pakistan, bringing some relief amid an otherwise devastating event.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa residents in Peshawar, Nowshera, Swat, Shangla, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Kohat, Malakand, Mardan, Hangu, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Upper Hazara, Buner, Banno, Bajaur, Tank, and Charsadda reported tremors.

Gilgit Baltistan also felt the quake in Gilgit, Skardu, and Diamer, while in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), the tremors were reported in Muzaffarabad, Bhimber, Neelum Valley, Samahni, and Hattian Bala —including Channari, Chikothi, Gujjar Bandi, and Lipa.

Afghanistan, hemmed in by rugged mountains, is prone to a range of natural disasters. Its earthquakes are the deadliest, killing about 560 ⁠people on average each year.

Last month, a 5.8-magnitude earthquake rocked eastern Afghanistan including the capital Kabul resulting in only minor damage and one reported injury.

The quake hit on Friday just as people in the Muslim-majority country were sitting down to break their Ramadan fast.

Strong earthquake shakes multiple cities across northern Pakistan

The epicentre was near several remote villages around 130 kilometres (80 miles) northeast of Kabul, the United States Geological Survey said.

A powerful 6.3-magnitude quake in the country in November left at least ⁠27 dead and destroyed hundreds of houses.