2022 Afghanistan Earthquake Significant & Deadly

June 23rd, 2022

According to multiple media reports a deadly earthquake has struck in Afghanistan killing over 1000 people. Initial estimates put the quake at least a 6.1 magnitude. The quake struck at about 1:30. The event happened very close to the Pakistan Border near the Paktika province. Damage was also reported in Pakistan. The quake was additionally felt in India and Pakistan.

According to AP News, 2000 structures were already reported damaged. These are initial estimates, all, only and higher figures are expected. Quake estimates are currently showing a 6.1 but this could change as more information becomes available.

Afganistan, as many Americans now know, is a remote country sandwhiched between Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan. There is a very small portion of the country that has a land border with China in the far east. The country is fairly politically isolated as of 2022.

Much of the initial reporting is coming from the Bakhtar news agency due to the remoteness, rugged terrain, and geopolitical factors involved. Afghanistan and Pakistan have had many previous signficant earthquakes before. Other than geological reasons, what makes the region prone to increased damage are the lack of building codes, poverty, and government.

In recent years Afghanistan has politically become more isolated as the Taliban have moved closer to fully taking over the entire country after the long United States war there. The Taliban has few formal international connections.

According to BBC News: “Afghanistan is prone to quakes, as it’s located in a tectonically active region, over a number of fault lines including the Chaman fault, the Hari Rud fault, the Central Badakhshan fault and the Darvaz fault.”

Afganistan is on the lookout for aftershocks. Aftershocks can sometimes do more damage than the initial earthquake.

The market for Earthquake property insurance in Afganistan is unknown at this time.