A magnitude-4.9 earthquake struck Afghanistan's seismically active Hindu Kush region in the early hours of October 5, 2026, according to India's National Centre for Seismology (NCS). The agency recorded the quake at 1:57:24 am IST, with the epicentre located at 36.602°N, 71.084°E — roughly 73 kilometres southeast of Fayzabad, the capital of Afghanistan's Badakhshan province.
NCS put the depth of the quake at 220 kilometres, classifying it as an intermediate-to-deep event. The agency shared the coordinates on X, stating: "EQ of M: 4.9, On: 05/10/2026 01:57:24 IST, Lat: 36.602 N, Long: 71.084 E, Depth: 220 Km, Location: Afghanistan."
What Is Known So Far
Light shaking was reported in parts of Kashmir, though the exact intensity felt in different areas was not immediately available, Kashmir Life reported. No injuries, deaths or property damage linked to the quake have been reported in Afghanistan or neighbouring regions as of the time of reporting.
Officials have not issued any aftershock warnings specific to this event. Given the quake's considerable depth of 220 km, the shaking at the surface was comparatively mild despite the moderate magnitude, as deeper earthquakes generally produce less intense ground motion than shallow ones of similar size.
A Separate, Earlier Quake on October 1
The October 5 event followed a separate earthquake that struck the same broader Hindu Kush region four days earlier. On October 1, 2026, NCS recorded a magnitude-5.3 quake at 6:59:20 am IST, centred about 165 km north-northwest of Kabul at a depth of 126 km, Nepal News reported, citing NCS data. No casualties or damage were reported from that earlier quake either, India TV News reported.
Two Recent Hindu Kush Earthquakes Compared| Detail | Oct 1, 2026 quake | Oct 5, 2026 quake |
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| Reported magnitude | 5.3 (NCS) | 4.9 (NCS) |
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| Time (IST) | 6:59:20 am | 1:57:24 am |
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| Depth | 126 km (NCS) | 220 km (NCS) |
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| Epicentre | ~165 km NNW of Kabul | ~73 km SE of Fayzabad |
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| Casualties/damage reported | None | None |
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Why the Region Shakes So Often
Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region sits along the collision zone between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making it one of the most seismically active areas in the world, India TV News reported.
Because of this activity, tremors originating in the Hindu Kush are frequently felt well beyond Afghanistan's borders, including in parts of Pakistan, India and, as with this event, Kashmir, even when the quakes themselves cause no reported damage.
What Remains Unknown
As of publication, no Afghan government agency or international body such as the USGS had issued its own independent confirmation or casualty assessment for the October 5 quake in the sources reviewed. Authorities typically update damage assessments in the days following a quake if any structural impact is later identified, particularly in remote areas of Badakhshan where communication can be limited.
Questions
- Where exactly did the October 5, 2026 earthquake strike?
- The epicentre was about 73 km southeast of Fayzabad, in Afghanistan's Badakhshan province, at coordinates 36.602°N, 71.084°E, according to India's National Centre for Seismology.
- Was there any damage or were there any casualties?
- No casualties or property damage had been reported as of the time of reporting, according to multiple outlets citing NCS data.
- How deep was the earthquake, and why does that matter?
- NCS measured the depth at 220 kilometres, an intermediate-to-deep event; deeper earthquakes generally cause less intense surface shaking than shallow ones of the same magnitude.
- Is this the same earthquake reported with a magnitude of 5.3?
- No. That figure refers to a separate, earlier earthquake on October 1, 2026, centred about 165 km north-northwest of Kabul, which India's National Centre for Seismology measured at magnitude 5.3.
- Were tremors felt outside Afghanistan?
- Yes, light shaking was reported in parts of Kashmir, though detailed intensity data for different areas was not immediately available, Kashmir Life reported.
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