A 4.2-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan on the morning of Monday, May 19, 2025, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS). This marks the fourth consecutive earthquake to hit the country in as many days.

In a post shared on X, the NCS reported that the quake occurred at a depth of 140 kilometers at 08:54 AM IST. “EQ of M: 4.2, On: 19/05/2025 08:54:18 IST, Lat: 36.41 N, Long: 70.94 E, Depth: 140 Km, Location: Afghanistan,” the agency stated.

The day before, on Sunday, May 18, Afghanistan experienced a 4.5-magnitude earthquake at a depth of 150 kilometers. On May 17, another quake measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale hit the region. The NCS post on X read: “EQ of M: 4.2, On: 17/05/2025 16:26:34 IST, Lat: 36.37 N, Long: 69.83 E, Depth: 120 Km, Location: Afghanistan.” A 4.0-magnitude earthquake had also occurred on May 16 at a depth of 120 kilometers.

Afghanistan is prone to frequent seismic activity, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain region, which is highly geologically active. The country lies on several fault lines where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet and collide, making it one of the most earthquake-prone regions in the world. One major fault line also passes through Herat.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), Afghanistan faces extreme vulnerability to natural disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, and seasonal flooding. The ongoing earthquakes pose serious threats to communities already struggling with years of conflict and underdevelopment, leaving them ill-equipped to withstand repeated disasters, UNOCHA noted.