Earthquake of Magnitude 5.6 Strikes Afghanistan, Tremors Felt in Delhi-NCR

New Delhi, April 16, 2025 – An earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale struck the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at approximately 4:43 AM IST. The tremors were felt across parts of northern India, including Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, and other areas in the National Capital Region (NCR).

According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), the quake occurred at a depth of 121 km (75 miles), with its epicenter located 164 km east of Baghlan, a city in Afghanistan with a population of about 108,000. The National Center for Seismology (NCS) reported the epicenter at coordinates 35.83 N, 70.60 E in the Hindu Kush region, confirming the depth at 75 km.

Residents in Delhi-NCR reported feeling mild tremors, with some social media users on X noting the shaking of furniture and ceiling fans. No immediate reports of damage or casualties have been recorded in either Afghanistan or India, likely due to the quake’s moderate magnitude and significant depth, which typically reduces surface impact.

The Hindu Kush region is known for frequent seismic activity due to its location along tectonic plate boundaries. Delhi, situated approximately 250 km from the seismically active Himalayan collision zone, often experiences tremors from earthquakes originating in Afghanistan, Nepal, or other neighboring regions. The city falls under Seismic Zone IV, indicating a high susceptibility to seismic activity, though most quakes felt in the region are minor, ranging between magnitudes 2.5 to 5.4, and rarely cause significant damage.

This event follows a series of recent seismic activities in the region. On February 17, 2025, a 4.0-magnitude earthquake with an epicenter in Delhi’s Dhaula Kuan area caused strong tremors due to its shallow depth of 5 km. Earlier, on January 11, 2025, a 6.1-magnitude quake in Afghanistan also sent mild tremors to Delhi-NCR.

Authorities in India, including the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, continue to monitor the situation. The NCS has advised residents to remain vigilant for potential aftershocks, though none have been reported as of now. The Ministry of Earth Sciences is also actively tracking seismic activity in the region to ensure timely updates.

Sources: National Center for Seismology (NCS), European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC)