Deadly shockwaves: Afghanistan quake kills 8, tremors send India-Pakistan into panic

According to Anadolu Agency, all eight fatalities were reported from the Bagrami district in Kabul province.

One person had also been reported missing earlier, the Afghanistan Information Ministry said in a statement cited by the agency.

The sudden quake triggered panic, forcing residents to rush out of homes and office buildings as the ground shook unexpectedly.

Shortly after the tremor, Afghan resident Obaidullah Baheer posted on X: “Short but powerful earthquake felt in Kabul just now.”

As per the U.S. Geological Survey, the peicentre of the quake was located 35 kms South of Jurm, Afghanistan.

Impact

Even moderate earthquakes in the Hindu Kush region can have widespread effects, particularly across northern India, due to the area’s geological sensitivity. Friday night’s tremors once again highlighted the vulnerability of densely populated urban centres to seismic activity.

Shaking was felt across Delhi-NCR and several northern cities, including Noida, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Dehradun, Srinagar, Poonch, and Udhampur.

Tremors were also reported in parts of Pakistan, including Islamabad and Peshawar.

What people experienced

Residents—particularly those in high-rise buildings—reported brief but noticeable shaking. Many said furniture and household items rattled, while others described a sudden, strong jolt lasting a few seconds.

“I felt a strong jolt,” a resident in Chandigarh said, recalling the moment panic set in.