A preliminary 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region on Saturday evening, according to early seismic assessments. The tremor occurred at 7:04 pm IST at a depth of 215 kilometres and was felt across parts of Pakistan and northwestern India. No casualties or damage were immediately reported.
The epicentre was located roughly 81 kilometres from Kalafgan in northeastern Afghanistan. Tremors were reported not only in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, but also across China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.
According to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), the earthquake registered a magnitude of 6.2 at coordinates 36.442°N and 70.672°E, with a focal depth of 215 kilometres.
Because the earthquake originated deep beneath the surface, its effects were felt over a broad area. However, deep-focus earthquakes generally cause less severe damage at ground level compared to shallower quakes of similar magnitude.
In Pakistan’s northern Swat district, residents rushed outdoors as the tremors shook homes and buildings. Although there were no immediate reports of injuries or destruction, many people feared possible aftershocks. Local resident Daniyal Ahmad told Reuters that the shaking was intense and lasted for a noticeable duration, adding that women and children were visibly distressed as crowds gathered outside for safety.
Seismologists classify a magnitude 6.2 earthquake as a strong seismic event with the potential to cause significant damage, though the actual impact depends on factors such as depth, proximity to populated areas and the resilience of local infrastructure.
The earthquake followed a series of seismic events recorded across the Indian subcontinent over the previous 24 hours.
Earlier on June 27, a shallow earthquake measuring 3.2 on the Richter scale struck Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district at 11:38 am IST. The quake occurred at a depth of 5 kilometres, with its epicentre situated around 22 kilometres north-northwest of Dharamshala in the earthquake-prone Himalayan region. It was considered a low-intensity event, and no damage or casualties were reported.
Pakistan also experienced four earthquakes within the last 24 hours, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). The strongest of these measured magnitude 5.5.
The most powerful tremor occurred at 8:36 am local time on Saturday. It registered a magnitude of 5.5, originated at a depth of 40 kilometres, and was centred at coordinates 30.271°N, 69.733°E in Pakistan’s Balochistan province.
Authorities reported no immediate casualties or structural damage from these earthquakes, and the EMSC confirmed and reviewed all four seismic events recorded in Pakistan during the period.
