What the record shows for Afghanistan
The strongest earthquake on record near Afghanistan is a magnitude 7.3 in 1956, centred 42 km NNW of B?my?n, Afghanistan - 70 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 337 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 389 km of Afghanistan - roughly 17 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
No tsunamis are recorded within 389 km of Afghanistan in the NOAA NCEI database. A quiet record is not the same as no exposure - a large enough offshore earthquake can reach coastlines that have never been hit in the historical period.
2 volcanoes are catalogued near Afghanistan, including Dacht-I-Navar Group, Vakak Group. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region produces frequent deep earthquakes from the India–Eurasia collision.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Afghanistan.
Earthquake risk in Afghanistan - FAQ
Is Afghanistan at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 17 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 389 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M7.3 in 1956.
What was the biggest earthquake in Afghanistan?
The strongest earthquake on record near Afghanistan is M7.3, in 1956 (42 km NNW of B?my?n, Afghanistan), from USGS.
Does Afghanistan get tsunamis?
No tsunamis are recorded within 389 km of Afghanistan in the NOAA database - though coastlines everywhere carry some residual risk after a very large offshore quake.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Afghanistan?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.