Afghanistan: Magnitude-5.0 earthquake occurs near Kunduz late Aug. 30

Event

A magnitude-5.0 earthquake occurred in northern Afghanistan at around 22:53 Aug. 30. The epicenter was about 38 km (24 miles) east-southeast of Kunduz. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles) and shaking was probably felt throughout nearby areas of northern Afghanistan and in parts of southern Tajikistan and southeastern Uzbekistan.

There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties; significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light aftershocks are likely over the coming days.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. Allow additional time for air and road travel, as aftershocks may prompt brief disruptions. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving in mountainous areas in the affected region due to potential landslides.