Image Credit: AFP
Afghanistan’s Badakhshan region experienced a 4.5 magnitude earthquake on Sunday, 22 December 2024. The tremor, which occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers, is one of several recent quakes in the disaster-prone region.
According to the UNOCHA, over 275,000 people have been affected by earthquakes in Afghanistan in 2024. The disaster has caused widespread destruction, damaging around 48,000 households and 21,300 public buildings. Consequently, more than 37,000 families have been forced into makeshift shelters.
Why Afghanistan Witnesses Frequent Earthquakes?
Afghanistan experiences frequent earthquakes because it lies at the convergence of the Indian and Eurasian Plates. This tectonic interaction leads to intense seismic activity, particularly in regions like the Hindu Kush and Herat provinces.
The country is intersected by several significant fault lines, including the Chaman Fault, the Hari Rud Fault, and the Central Badakhshan Fault. These faults are zones of weakness in the Earth’s crust where tectonic forces are released. Movement along these faults can trigger earthquakes. For example, the Chaman Fault, which runs along the border with Pakistan, is one of the most active fault lines in the region.
Many of the earthquakes in Afghanistan are shallow and tend to cause more damage than deeper ones because the seismic waves have less distance to travel to the surface, resulting in stronger ground shaking. This is why even moderate-magnitude earthquakes can cause significant destruction in Afghanistan. The geological structure of Afghanistan is complex, with a mix of mountain ranges, valleys, and basins. This complexity contributes to the variability in seismic activity across the country. The Hindu Kush mountain range, in particular, is a hotspot for deep-focus earthquakes.
Afghanistan has a long history of seismic activity. The region has experienced numerous significant earthquakes over the centuries. For instance, the 1998 earthquake in Takhar and Badakhshan provinces killed thousands of people. More recently, the 2015 Hindu Kush earthquake and the 2022 earthquake in Khost and Paktika provinces have highlighted the ongoing seismic risk.
Many homes in Afghanistan are made of mud bricks and other inadequate materials, making them highly vulnerable to collapse during earthquakes. Poor construction standards and techniques, combined with high population density in seismically active areas, exacerbate the impact. Additionally, the lack of earthquake-resistant infrastructure and limited emergency response capabilities further increase the risk and damage. Economic constraints also prevent many from building safer homes or retrofitting existing structures.
In summary, Afghanistan experiences frequent earthquakes due to its position at the convergence of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, leading to significant tectonic activity. The presence of numerous fault lines and the occurrence of shallow earthquakes further increase the seismic risk. Additionally, poor construction practices and inadequate infrastructure amplify the damage and casualties during these events.
Title:Explained: Why earthquakes happen frequently in Afghanistan?
Written By: Fact Crescendo TeamResult: Insight
