Afghanistan Earthquake 2025
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: RT
Context: A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck northern Afghanistan near Mazar‑e Sharif, adding to a series of recent deadly quakes in the country and raising urgent concerns about seismic risk and preparedness.
About Afghanistan Earthquake 2025:
What is Earthquake?
• An earthquake is a sudden shaking of the ground caused by the slip of rock blocks past each other along a fault line. The point inside the Earth where the quake begins is called the hypocenter, and the point directly above it on the surface is the epicenter.
How It Occurs?
• The Earth’s crust is divided into tectonic plates that constantly move.
• When these plates collide, slide, or diverge, stress builds up along faults.
• Once the accumulated energy overcomes friction, the rocks suddenly release energy in the form of seismic waves, shaking the ground.
How It Is Measured?
• Instrument: Seismograph records ground motion; its output is a seismogram.
• Magnitude: Indicates energy released; measured on the Richter or Moment Magnitude (Mw) scale.
• Intensity: Refers to the degree of shaking at different locations, measured by the Modified Mercalli Scale.
• Triangulation method: Used to locate the epicenter using P (primary) and S (secondary) wave data from three or more stations.
Key Features:
• Foreshocks: These are smaller tremors that occur in the same area shortly before the main earthquake, caused by the gradual buildup of stress along a fault line.
• Mainshock: It is the largest and most powerful earthquake in a sequence, releasing the maximum accumulated energy and causing the greatest ground shaking.
• Aftershocks: These are smaller quakes that follow the mainshock as the crust adjusts to the new stress balance, often continuing for weeks or even months.
• Seismic Waves: The energy released during a quake travel outward as P-waves (fast, compressional) and S-waves (slower, shear), shaking the ground as they pass through.
Why Afghanistan Is So Prone to Earthquakes?
• Tectonic Collision Zone: Afghanistan sits where the Indian, Eurasian, and Arabian plates collide, and the constant northward push of the Indian plate creates intense crustal stress leading to frequent quakes.
• Complex Fault Network: The nation lies atop active faults like the Chaman, Hari Rud, and Badakhshan faults, where continuous plate movement triggers frequent seismic slips.
• Mountainous Terrain and Landslides: Steep, fragile mountain slopes amplify ground shaking and cause landslides, compounding quake-related losses.
• Poor Infrastructure and Construction Practices: Traditional mud-brick houses lack quake-resistant design, collapsing easily even during moderate seismic activity.
• Limited Monitoring and Preparedness: Afghanistan lacks modern seismic networks and early warning systems, preventing timely alerts and disaster mitigation.