Kabul: The National Center for Seismology (NCS) reported that an earthquake with a magnitude of 3.9 occurred in Afghanistan on Wednesday.

The NCS claims that since the earthquake only struck 15 kilometers below the surface, it was vulnerable to aftershocks.

The NCS posted on X, “EQ of M: 3.9, On: 02/07/2025 00:44:52 IST, Lat: 36.63 N, Long: 71.38 E, Depth: 15 Km, Location: Afghanistan.”

Afghanistan was rocked by another 4.9-magnitude earthquake earlier on June 30.

In an X post, NCS stated, “EQ of M: 4.9, On: 30/06/2025 08:02:35 IST, Lat: 36.77 N, Long: 71.13 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Afghanistan.”

A second earthquake of magnitude 4.3 had previously occurred in the area on June 28 at a depth of 120 kilometers.

According to an NCS post on X, “EQ of M: 4.3, On: 28/06/2025 20:01:13 IST, Lat: 36.37 N, Long: 71.06 E, Depth: 120 Km, Location: Afghanistan.”

Because they release more energy near to the Earth’s surface, shallow earthquakes like this one are more damaging than deeper ones. In contrast to deeper earthquakes, which lose energy as they approach the surface, this results in more severe ground shaking, more damage to buildings, and more fatalities.

According to the Red Cross, Afghanistan has a history of strong earthquakes, and the Hindu Kush Mountain range is a geologically active region where quakes happen often.

In addition to a fault line that passes straight through Herat, Afghanistan is situated on other fault lines that connect the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. It is a seismically active area because it is situated on many active fault lines in the area where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide. Seismic activity is often caused by the meeting and collision of these plates.

Afghanistan is still very susceptible to landslides, earthquakes, and seasonal floods, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).

According to UNOCHA, these frequent earthquakes in Afghanistan harm vulnerable populations who are already struggling with decades of underdevelopment and violence, making them less equipped to handle many shocks at once.