A significant M5.1 earthquake struck under land 75 kilometer from Fayzabad in Afghanistan in the evening of Tuesday October 21st, 2025. Tajikistan and Pakistan are also near its epicenter.
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Earthquake Summary
The earthquake struck on land in Afghanistan, 75 kilometer (47 mi) south-east of Fayzabad in Badakhshan. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 244 km.
| Date and Time: | Oct 21, 2025 23:14 (Dushanbe Time) - Oct 21, 2025 18:14 Universal Time. |
|---|---|
| Location: | 43 km WSW of Ishqoshim, Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan. Coordinates 36°37'38"N 71°9'9"E. |
| Map: |  Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps. |
| Magnitude: | MAG 5.1 Detected by 15 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.08 . |
| Depth: | 244 km (152 mi) An intermediate depth. |
| Tsunami Risk: | Tsunami very unlikely Tsunami's are usually caused by MAG-6.5+ earthquakes, less than 100km shallow, and with an epicenter under sea. Neither of this seems to be the case. Always stay cautious - More info here. |
Nearby towns and cities
Tajikistan , Afghanistan and Pakistan are all located within 300km distance of the epicenter of the earthquake.
The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Ishqoshim in Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan. Ishqoshim is located 43 kilometer (27 mi) west-southwest of the epicenter.
Multiple major population centers exist within 300km of the earthquake that struck today. Kabul is located 294 km to the southwest. Peshawar is located 294 km to the south. Battagram is located 275 km to the south-east.
The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake.
Overview of nearby places
| Distance | Place |
|---|---|
| 43 km (27 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Ishqoshim Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan. |
| 75 km (47 mi) NW from epicenter |
Fayzabad Badakhshan, Afghanistan. |
| 102 km (63 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Khorugh Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan. |
| 130 km (81 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Rustāq Takhar, Afghanistan. |
| 145 km (90 mi) W from epicenter |
Taloqan Takhar, Afghanistan. |
| 157 km (98 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Ārt Khwājah Takhar, Afghanistan. |
| 161 km (100 mi) SE from epicenter |
Thal Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. |
| 169 km (105 mi) NW from epicenter |
Chubek Khatlon, Tajikistan. |
| 171 km (106 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Upper Dir Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. |
| 178 km (111 mi) S from epicenter |
Āsmār Kunar, Afghanistan. |
| 182 km (113 mi) W from epicenter |
Khanabad Kunduz, Afghanistan. |
| 183 km (114 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Farkhor Khatlon, Tajikistan. |
| 187 km (116 mi) NW from epicenter |
Hulbuk Khatlon, Tajikistan. |
| 187 km (116 mi) NW from epicenter |
Kŭlob Khatlon, Tajikistan. |
| 191 km (119 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Nahrīn Baghlan, Afghanistan. |
| 195 km (121 mi) S from epicenter |
Asadābād Kunar, Afghanistan. |
| 205 km (127 mi) W from epicenter |
Kunduz Kunduz, Afghanistan. |
| 208 km (129 mi) SW from epicenter |
Bāzārak Panjshir, Afghanistan. |
| 221 km (137 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Qarāwul Kunduz, Afghanistan. |
| 226 km (140 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Baghlān Baghlan, Afghanistan. |
| 229 km (142 mi) NW from epicenter |
Danghara Khatlon, Tajikistan. |
| 231 km (144 mi) WSW from epicenter |
Pul-e Khumrī Baghlan, Afghanistan. |
| 233 km (145 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Mingora Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. |
| 234 km (145 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Mehtar Lām Laghman, Afghanistan. |
| 235 km (146 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Bat Khela Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. |
| 238 km (148 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Vakhsh Khatlon, Tajikistan. |
| 241 km (150 mi) SW from epicenter |
Jabal os Saraj Parwan, Afghanistan. |
| 246 km (153 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Kolkhozobod Khatlon, Tajikistan. |
| 250 km (155 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Bokhtar Khatlon, Tajikistan. |
| 253 km (157 mi) SW from epicenter |
Charikar Parwan, Afghanistan. |
| 253 km (157 mi) SSW from epicenter |
Jalālābād Nangarhar, Afghanistan. |
| 253 km (157 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Moskovskiy Khatlon, Tajikistan. |
| 254 km (158 mi) NW from epicenter |
Norak Khatlon, Tajikistan. |
| 263 km (163 mi) S from epicenter |
Tangi Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. |
| 265 km (165 mi) NW from epicenter |
Yovon Khatlon, Tajikistan. |
| 271 km (168 mi) S from epicenter |
Shabqadar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. |
| 275 km (171 mi) SE from epicenter |
Battagram Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. |
| 277 km (172 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Utmanzai Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. |
| 281 km (175 mi) S from epicenter |
Charsadda Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. |
| 281 km (175 mi) S from epicenter |
Markaz-e Woluswalī-ye Āchīn Nangarhar, Afghanistan. |
| 282 km (175 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Mardan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. |
| 283 km (176 mi) W from epicenter |
Aībak Samangan, Afghanistan. |
| 286 km (178 mi) NW from epicenter |
Vahdat Republican Subordination, Tajikistan. |
| 291 km (181 mi) NW from epicenter |
Boshkengash Dushanbe, Tajikistan. |
| 294 km (183 mi) SW from epicenter |
Kabul Kabul, Afghanistan. |
| 294 km (183 mi) S from epicenter |
Peshawar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. |
| 295 km (183 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Risalpur Cantonment Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. |
| 297 km (185 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Pabbi Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. |
| 298 km (185 mi) NW from epicenter |
Dushanbe Dushanbe, Tajikistan. |
| 300 km (186 mi) SSE from epicenter |
Aman Garh Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. |
Shaking reported by 4 people in 3 countries
People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 4 people have reported shaking in 3 places in 3 countries (Tajikistan, Afghanistan, 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:
- Islamabad, Federal Capital Area, Pakistan: 2 people.
- Dushanbe, Dushanbe, Tajikistan: 1 person.
- Kabul, Kabul, Afghanistan: 1 person.
Aftershocks detected
Since this main shock, 1 smaller aftershock was detected. Just 3 days after this main shock, an earthquake measuring MAG-4 was detected 21 km (13 mi) north-northwest of this earthquake.
Before this earthquake struck, 1 smaller foreshock occurred. Nearby this earthquake a foreshock struck 2 days earlier. It measured a magnitude of 4.2
Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks
| Classification | Magnitude | When | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreshock | M 4.2 |
2 days earlier Oct 20, 2025 06:00AM (Dushanbe Time) | 42 km (26 mi) WSW from Main Shock. |
| Main Shock This Earthquake |
M 5.1 |
Oct 21, 2025 11:14PM (Dushanbe Time) | - |
| Aftershock | M 4.0 |
3 days later Oct 24, 2025 11:01PM (Dushanbe Time) | 21 km (13 mi) NNW from Main Shock. |
More earthquakes coming?
Aftershocks are usually at least 1 order of magnitude less strong than main shocks. The more time passes, the smaller the chance and likely strength of any potential aftershocks.
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.
Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).Earthquakes like this happen often in the region
Earthquakes of this strength are very common in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since October 17th, 2025, when a 5.5 magnitude earthquake hit 144 km (90 mi) further east. An even stronger magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck on October 26th, 2015.
In total, 67 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.1 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 2 months.
Tsunami very unlikely
It is very unlikely that this eartquake will cause any tsunami's. The reported magnitude is lower than the MAG-6.5 strength required to cause any earthquakes. In addition, this earthquake was not very shallow and appears to have occurred under land. However always stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.
Tsunami Risk Factors
| Factor | Under Sea? | MAG-6.5 or stronger? | Shallow depth? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explanation | Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami. | Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's. |
Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor. |
| This Earthquake | Not this earthquake. This earthquake appears to have struck on land far from any coast. |
Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 5.1. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
Not this earthquake. This earthquake occurred at a depth of 244 km (152 mi). Earthquakes this deep in the earth are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
Sources
Last updated 08/11/25 20:38 (). 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.
- US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us6000riia
- European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20251021_0000232
- Geonames.org: World Cities Database
- Google Maps: Static API
- Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database
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