On Sunday Evening a DESTRUCTIVE M6.0 Earthquake struck near Jalālābād in Afghanistan.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on August 31st, 2025. Last updated October 30th, 2025.

Just before midnight of Sunday August 31st, 2025, a DESTRUCTIVE and strong Magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit under land 45 kilometer from Jalālābād in Afghanistan. Earthquakes this strong in regions like this are likely to cause high numbers of casualties. Other nearby countries are Pakistan and Tajikistan.

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Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Afghanistan, 45 kilometer (28 mi) north-east of Jalālābād in Nangarhar. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 8 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Aug 31, 2025 11:47PM (Kabul Time) - Aug 31, 2025 19:17 Universal Time.
Location:	45 km NE of Jalālābād, Nangarhar, Afghanistan. Coordinates 34°42'38"N 70°48'32"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 6.0 Detected by 30 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.057 .
Depth:	8 km (5 mi) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	X Extreme On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Tsunami very unlikely While this was a shallow earthquake, it appears to have occurred under land with a magnitude not strong enough to cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here.

High fatalities predicted

The US Geographic Survey (USGS) describes the impact of this earthquake as follows:

At least 2,205 people killed and 3,640 injured; at least 5,400 homes and up to 65% of buildings destroyed, 98% of structures damaged and roads damaged due to landslides in Kunar. Eighty people injured and at least 14 homes destroyed in Laghman. Twelve persons killed and 255 injured in Nangarhar. Four people injured in Nuristan. Five homes destroyed in Panjshir.

Based on scientific estimates by the USGS, the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level RED (high). They expect an 37% likelyhood of between 1,000 and 10,000 fatalities, and a 98% chance that the number of fatalities falls between 100 and 10,000,000.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level ORANGE (orange). They expect an 35% likelyhood of between 100 and 1,000 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 92% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls between 10 and 100,000 million USD.

Roughly 59 million people exposed to shaking

The USGS has published a report estimating the number of people exposed to this earthquake. Acoording to their analysis, roughly 59 million have been exposed to shaking at an MMI level of II or higher.

Violent shaking and likely heavy damage may have been experienced by an estimated 23,920 people. At IX, it is the highest MMI level this earthquake has caused. Intensity level IV was experienced by the majority of people (around 41 million). In their region, light shaking and likely no damage can be expected.

People in 2 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Afghanistan , around 16 million people, with impact levels up to IX (violent shaking, likely heavy damage). In Pakistan , around 43 million people.

Nearby towns and cities

Afghanistan , Pakistan and Tajikistan are all located within 300km distance of the epicenter of the earthquake. Futher away, this earthquake may also have been felt in India.

Located 36 kilometer (22 mi) west-southwest of the epicenter of this earthquake, Asadābād (Kunar, Afghanistan) is the nearest significant population center. Asadābād experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly VI. That level implies strong shaking and probably light damage.

Multiple major population centers exist within 300km of the earthquake that struck today. Kabul is located 151 km to the west and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Peshawar is located 105 km to the south-east and experienced an intensity of V (moderate shaking, very light damage). Rawalpindi is located 240 km to the east-southeast and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage).

The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake. Where available, the estimated intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale in each place is included. Places where this information is omitted likely experienced little impact.

Overview of nearby places

Earthquake Intensity Map

The intensity in shaking and damage by this earthquake is illustrated through the map below. The highest intensity measured for this earthquake is IX.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Shaking reported by 168 people in 3 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 168 people have reported shaking in 40 places in 3 countries (Afghanistan, India, Pakistan).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

• Jalal Abad, Nangarhār, Afghanistan: 29 people.
• Islamabad, Federal Capital Area, Pakistan: 24 people.
• Peshawar, North-West Frontier, Pakistan: 14 people.
• Kabul, Kabul, Afghanistan: 14 people.
• Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan: 13 people.
• Asad Abad, Kunarhā, Afghanistan: 12 people.
• Kotal, Federally administered Tribal Areas, Pakistan: 4 people.
• Taxila, Punjab, Pakistan: 4 people.
• Mardan, North-West Frontier, Pakistan: 4 people.
• Abottabad, North-West Frontier, Pakistan: 3 people.

16 Aftershocks detected

Since this main shock, 16 smaller aftershocks were detected. Just 2 days after this main shock, an earthquake measuring MAG-5.2 was detected 16 km (10 mi) south-southwest of this earthquake.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

More earthquakes coming?

Earthquakes can create aftershocks. These are generally at least 1 magnitude lower than any main shock, and as time passes the chance and strength of aftershocks decreases.

In only six percent of cases, significant earthquakes are followed by a larger main shock, making the current earthquake a foreshock. While the chance of this happening is not so large, it is adviced to maintain cautiousness in the hours and days following a major earthquake.

Earthquakes like this are common in the region

Earthquakes of this strength occur quite regularly in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since January 11th, 2024, when a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit 200 km (124 mi) further north. An even stronger magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck on October 26th, 2015.

In total, 10 earthquakes with a magnitude of 6 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every year.

Tsunami very unlikely

While MAG-6.5+ earthquakes may cause tsunami's, it appears that the epicenter of this earthquake hit under land. In addition, the reported depth is deeper than 100km, making the risk of a tsunami even less likely. However always stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Sources

Last updated 30/10/25 06:58 (). This article contains currently available information about the earthquake and is automatically composed. We continue to update this article up to a few days after the earthquake occurred.

1. US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us7000qsvj
2. European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20250831_0000357
3. Geonames.org: World Cities Database
4. Google Maps: Static API
5. Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database

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