Significant M5.8 Earthquake struck on Friday Evening near Fayzabad in Afghanistan.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on April 3rd, 2026. Last updated June 2nd, 2026.

A significant Magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck under land 67 kilometer from Fayzabad in Afghanistan in the evening of Friday April 3rd, 2026. Shaking may have been felt by a total of 17 million people. Other nearby countries are Tajikistan and Pakistan.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Afghanistan, 67 kilometer (42 mi) south of Fayzabad in Badakhshan. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 188 km.

Date and Time:	Apr 3, 2026 08:42PM (Kabul Time) - Apr 3, 2026 16:12 Universal Time.
Location:	67 km south of Fayzabad, Badakhshan, Afghanistan. Coordinates 36°32'31"N 70°48'56"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.8 Detected by 37 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.051 .
Depth:	188 km (117 mi) An intermediate depth.
Max. Intensity:	IV Light On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
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.

Minimal impact predicted

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

At least 12 persons killed and 4 injured, 5 homes destroyed and 33 damaged in the Kabul-Laghman-Logar-Nangarhar-Nuristan-Panjshir area. Two persons injured in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and at least 1 building damaged at Peshawar, Pakistan.

Based on scientific estimates by the USGS, the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 90% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 90% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact.

Roughly 17 million people exposed to shaking

An estimated 17 million have been exposed to shaking (An MMI or Modified Mercalli Intensity level II or higher) as a result of this earthquake according scientific estimates published by the USGS.

An estimated 11,650,000 people were exposed to level III. At this level, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected.

People in 3 countries have been exposed to shaking. Roughly 7.4 million people were exposed to shaking in Afghanistan , with level III (weak shaking, probably no damage) as the highest recorded. In Pakistan , around 6.2 million people. Roughly 3.3 million people were exposed to shaking in Tajikistan .

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
5,188,000	II	Very weak	None
11,650,000	III	Weak	Probably none
0	IV	Light	Likely none
0	V	Moderate	Very light
0	VI	Strong	Light
0	VII	Very Strong	Moderate
0	VIII	Severe	Moderate to heavy
0	IX	Violent	Heavy
0	X	Extreme	Very heavy

Nearby towns and cities

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

Fayzabad in Badakhshan, Afghanistan is the nearest significant place from the epicenter. The earthquake occurred 67 kilometer (42 mi) south of Fayzabad. The intensity of shaking and damage in Fayzabad is estimated to be around level III on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (weak shaking, probably no damage).

Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Kabul is located 269 km to the southwest (intensity unknown, possibly low). Rawalpindi is located 385 km to the south-east (intensity unknown, possibly low). Peshawar is located 290 km to the south (intensity unknown, possibly low).

A complete list of nearby places is included below. Estimated intensity data (MMI) sourced from a shake-map published by the US Geographic Survey is shown where available (cities without data probably experienced little impact).

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
67 km (42 mi) N from epicenter	Fayzabad Badakhshan, Afghanistan.	III Weak
74 km (46 mi) E from epicenter	Ishqoshim Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan.	III Weak
109 km (68 mi) NW from epicenter	Rustāq Takhar, Afghanistan.	III Weak
116 km (72 mi) W from epicenter	Taloqan Takhar, Afghanistan.	III Weak
124 km (77 mi) NE from epicenter	Khorugh Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan.	III Weak
133 km (83 mi) NW from epicenter	Ārt Khwājah Takhar, Afghanistan.	III Weak
153 km (95 mi) W from epicenter	Khanabad Kunduz, Afghanistan.	III Weak
155 km (96 mi) NW from epicenter	Chubek Khatlon, Tajikistan.	III Weak
160 km (99 mi) W from epicenter	Nahrīn Baghlan, Afghanistan.	III Weak
164 km (102 mi) NW from epicenter	Farkhor Khatlon, Tajikistan.	III Weak
175 km (109 mi) S from epicenter	Āsmār Kunar, Afghanistan.	III Weak
175 km (109 mi) SE from epicenter	Thal Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.	III Weak
175 km (109 mi) NW from epicenter	Hulbuk Khatlon, Tajikistan.	III Weak
176 km (109 mi) W from epicenter	Kunduz Kunduz, Afghanistan.	III Weak
177 km (110 mi) SE from epicenter	Upper Dir Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.	III Weak
178 km (111 mi) NW from epicenter	Kŭlob Khatlon, Tajikistan.	III Weak
180 km (112 mi) SW from epicenter	Bāzārak Panjshir, Afghanistan.	III Weak
188 km (117 mi) S from epicenter	Asadābād Kunar, Afghanistan.	III Weak
194 km (121 mi) W from epicenter	Baghlān Baghlan, Afghanistan.	III Weak
196 km (122 mi) W from epicenter	Qarāwul Kunduz, Afghanistan.	III Weak
200 km (124 mi) W from epicenter	Pul-e Khumrī Baghlan, Afghanistan.	III Weak
215 km (134 mi) S from epicenter	Mehtar Lām Laghman, Afghanistan.
217 km (135 mi) NW from epicenter	Danghara Khatlon, Tajikistan.	III Weak
226 km (140 mi) SW from epicenter	Charikar Parwan, Afghanistan.	III Weak
231 km (144 mi) NW from epicenter	Bokhtar Khatlon, Tajikistan.	III Weak
238 km (148 mi) S from epicenter	Jalālābād Nangarhar, Afghanistan.
238 km (148 mi) SE from epicenter	Bat Khela Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
241 km (150 mi) SE from epicenter	Mingora Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.	II Weak
252 km (157 mi) W from epicenter	Aībak Samangan, Afghanistan.
267 km (166 mi) S from epicenter	Shabqadar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
269 km (167 mi) SW from epicenter	Kabul Kabul, Afghanistan.
275 km (171 mi) NW from epicenter	Vahdat Republican Subordination, Tajikistan.
275 km (171 mi) SW from epicenter	Paghmān Kabul, Afghanistan.
279 km (173 mi) W from epicenter	Khulm Balkh, Afghanistan.
279 km (173 mi) S from epicenter	Charsadda Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
284 km (176 mi) SE from epicenter	Mardan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
285 km (177 mi) NW from epicenter	Dushanbe Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
288 km (179 mi) SE from epicenter	Battagram Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
290 km (180 mi) S from epicenter	Peshawar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
303 km (188 mi) S from epicenter	Nowshera Cantonment Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
308 km (191 mi) SE from epicenter	Swabi Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
314 km (195 mi) SE from epicenter	Tordher Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
324 km (201 mi) W from epicenter	Tirmiz Surxondaryo, Uzbekistan.
331 km (206 mi) SW from epicenter	Bāmyān Bamyan, Afghanistan.
331 km (206 mi) W from epicenter	Mazār-e Sharīf Balkh, Afghanistan.
333 km (207 mi) SW from epicenter	Baraki Barak Logar, Afghanistan.
334 km (208 mi) S from epicenter	Kohat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
341 km (212 mi) SE from epicenter	Muzaffarābād Azad Kashmir, Pakistan.
344 km (214 mi) SE from epicenter	Abbottabad Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
350 km (217 mi) W from epicenter	Balkh Balkh, Afghanistan.
358 km (222 mi) SW from epicenter	Gardez Paktia, Afghanistan.
365 km (227 mi) S from epicenter	Khōst Khowst, Afghanistan.
373 km (232 mi) SE from epicenter	Islamabad Islamabad, Pakistan.
383 km (238 mi) N from epicenter	Razzakov Batken, Kyrgyzstan.
385 km (239 mi) SE from epicenter	Rawalpindi Punjab, Pakistan.
397 km (247 mi) SW from epicenter	Ghazni Ghazni, Afghanistan.
399 km (248 mi) N from epicenter	Isfara Sughd, Tajikistan.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is III. The map below shows in which areas this earthquake was the most and least impactful. It is based on data from the US Geographic Survey.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Earthquake Intensity Map based on Shakemap Data provided by USGS.

Shaking reported by 32 people in 5 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 32 people have reported shaking in 18 places in 5 countries (Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan).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: 6 people.
Kabul, Kabul, Afghanistan: 5 people.
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan: 3 people.
Tashkent, Taschkent, Uzbekistan: 2 people.
Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan: 2 people.
Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India: 2 people.
Mingaora, North-West Frontier, Pakistan: 1 person.
Shorkot, North-West Frontier, Pakistan: 1 person.
Panchkula, Haryana, India: 1 person.
Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan: 1 person.

Risk of aftershocks?

We have not yet detected any foreshocks or aftershocks (MAG-2.5 or higher) within 100km (62 mi) of this earthquake.

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.

The chance that a significant earthquake like this one is followed by an even larger earthquake is not so large. On average, scientists estimate a 94% chance that a major earthquake will not be followed by an even larger one. It is still adviced to be aware of this risk

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 February 20th, 2026, when a 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit 143 km (89 mi) further southwest. An even stronger magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck on February 23rd, 2023.

In total, 16 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.8 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 8 months.

Tsunami very unlikely

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

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 5.8. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake occurred at a depth of 188 km (117 mi). Earthquakes this deep in the earth are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 02/06/26 06:38 (). 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.