5.5-Magnitude Earthquake Jolts Northeastern Afghanistan

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Jurm: The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a magnitude 5.5 earthquake near Jurm in Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province on Wednesday. The earthquake struck at a depth of approximately 216.7 kilometres in the seismically active Hindu Kush mountain range.

There are no initial reports of deaths, injuries, or substantial damage, and authorities are monitoring the situation to determine its potential impact. The quake was felt in regions of northeastern Afghanistan, but its depth likely limited the severity of surface shaking.

The Hindu Kush region is one of the world's most earthquake-prone places due to the continuous collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Deeply focused earthquakes are common in the region and can be felt across a large area, but causing less damage than shallow quakes.

Afghanistan is extremely vulnerable to earthquakes, with many remote mountainous towns subject to landslides and inadequate infrastructure. The country has seen multiple catastrophic earthquakes in recent years, emphasising the need for better disaster planning and emergency response.