Strong 6.1 earthquake hits Afghanistan, tremors felt in India and Pakistan

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan on Saturday, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS).

The quake rocked eastern provinces including Khost and Nangarhar, and it was also felt in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, AFP said.

The epicentre was recorded in northeastern Afghanistan at a depth of 208.3 kilometres (129 miles), according to the USGS.

A Reuters report said the earthquake struck at 7:04 pm local time, at a depth of around 215 kilometres beneath the Earth’s surface.

Authorities have not reported any casualties or significant structural damage in Afghanistan or the Delhi-NCR region following the earthquake. Officials continue to monitor the situation.

Tremors felt across India and Pakistan

Tremors were felt across several parts of north India, including Delhi-NCR, according to media reports, triggering brief panic among residents.

According to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), the nodal agency of the Government of India for monitoring seismic activity, the earthquake’s epicentre was located in Afghanistan and measured 6.2 on the Richter scale.

In a post on X, the NCS said: “EQ of M: 6.2, On: 27/06/2026 19:04:51 IST, Lat: 36.442 N, Long: 70.672 E, Depth: 215 Km, Location: Afghanistan.”

Separately, North India experienced strong tremors as part of the same broader tectonic activity affecting the region.

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) also confirmed the seismic activity originated in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region.

According to reports citing witnesses, tremors were also experienced in Kabul and parts of northern Pakistan.

In Pakistan, at least five moderate earthquakes have struck Balochistan since Friday, with magnitudes ranging from 4.3 to 5.3. The quakes have reportedly injured at least five people and damaged several mud houses in remote areas, including Barkhan, Musakhail, Kohlu, Kingri and Rakhni.

The Hindu Kush region lies in one of the world’s most seismically active zones, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide. Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to earthquakes due to this geological setting and multiple fault lines, including systems running through areas such as Herat.