Afghanistan: Magnitude-5.9 earthquake occurs in Badakhshan Province at around 23:26 Oct. 16

A magnitude-5.9 earthquake occurred in Afghanistan's Badakhshan Province at around 23:26 Oct. 16. The epicenter was about 40 km (25 miles) south-southwest of Jurm, Afghanistan. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 203 km (126 miles), and light shaking was probably felt in parts of Badakhshan Province and southern Tajikistan. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. 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.