EMSC confirms depth of 121 km; no reports of damage in India or Philippines amid regional seismic activity
New Delhi/Kabul, April 16, 2025 – A 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan early Wednesday, with tremors felt in Delhi-NCR, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) and social media reports.
Initially reported as a 6.4-magnitude event, the EMSC later downgraded the quake to 5.6. The epicentre was located 164 km east of Baghlan, a northern Afghan city, at a depth of 121 km (75 miles).
Tremors Reach India’s Capital
While there have been no reports of damage or injuries in India, several users on social media platform X claimed to have felt tremors in the Delhi region.
“Anyone else feel the earthquake in Delhi just now?” one user posted, echoing a wave of similar reports.
Seismic Wave Across Asia
The Afghanistan tremor is part of a broader wave of recent seismic activity across Asia. Just hours earlier, the southern Philippines also recorded a 5.6-magnitude earthquake, with its epicentre located 43 km southwest of Maitum on Mindanao island, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
Also Read: Magnitude 5 Earthquake Strikes Nepal, Tremors Felt Across North India
Local officials in Maitum said there were no reports of casualties or significant structural damage, noting that the tremor was “strong but brief.”
Afghanistan’s High Seismic Risk
Afghanistan lies at the convergence of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making it one of the most earthquake-prone regions in South Asia. The Hindu Kush mountains, in particular, are a seismic hotspot.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), frequent earthquakes in Afghanistan disproportionately impact vulnerable communities still recovering from decades of conflict and poverty.
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