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AFGHANISTAN EARTHQUAKE
Why in the News?
- A powerful earthquake struck western Afghanistan.
Source: BBC
Source: BBCAbout
- Earthquake Details: A 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck near Jurm village in northeastern Afghanistan, with a depth of 206 kilometers.
- Impact on Pakistan and India: Tremors were felt in parts of Pakistan and India, including major cities like Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Muzaffarabad, Delhi, and the National Capital Region.
- Public Reaction: The earthquake caused panic, with people seeking safety under buildings, and residents fleeing from homes and offices in affected areas.
- No Immediate Damage or Injuries: Despite its magnitude, there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries in the affected regions, a notable outcome considering the intensity of the tremors.
- Geological Context: Afghanistan, located near the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plate junction in the Hindu Kush mountain range, is prone to earthquakes, making it a seismically active region.
Earthquake
- Earthquakes result from the movement of tectonic plates along fault lines caused by tectonic forces and stress in the earth’s lithosphere.
- Sudden slipping of these plates releases energy, generating seismic waves that travel through the ground.
- The starting point of an earthquake within the earth is known as the focus or hypocentre.
- The corresponding point on the earth’s surface directly above the focus is called the epicentre.
- Earth’s tectonic plates are in constant motion due to internal heat energy, with plate boundaries being the primary locations for earthquakes.
