Tremors of 4.2 magnitude rocked Afghanistan’s remote Badakhshan province Thursday, with the epicenter pinpointed near Ashkasham. The quake struck at 1:08 PM Delhi time—or 4:30 PM locally—33 kilometers within Afghan territory and 100 kilometers underground. As rescue teams assess the impact, no confirmed losses have been reported, though the area’s vulnerability looms large.
Context reveals a cluster of seismic strikes: a 3.8 magnitude on Wednesday (90 km deep) and Tuesday’s shallow 4.1 (10 km deep), the latter far more menacing. Shallow quakes unleash fiercer surface waves over minimal distance, devastating structures and lives more than their deeper counterparts, and often triggering damaging aftershocks.
Afghanistan endures frequent quakes in the hyperactive Hindu Kush, fueled by tectonic clashes between Indian and Eurasian plates. A prominent fault traverses key zones, including Herat, amplifying risks. Recent events signal elevated activity, urging enhanced monitoring and readiness.
Adding a global note, Xinhua cites Israel’s Geological Survey on a 4.2 magnitude tremor in the Dead Sea’s southeast, the planet’s lowest landpoint. Centered 26 km deep at 31.1°N, 35.5°E, it occurred at 9 AM local time, shaking Jerusalem and beyond. Magen David Adom reported zero casualties; police scanned for risks, reinforcing safety protocols to a relieved public.