Afghanistan has a long history of earthquakes, many in the mountainous Hindu Kush region bordering Pakistan. Thousands have lost their lives to this natural disaster. Here are the eight most devastating earthquakes in the country’s history following the latest tragedy that left more than 1,000 persons dead in the eastern city of Khost.
1.31st January 1991
Hindu Kush: An earthquake in the rugged Hindu Kush killed 848 people across Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Soviet Union.
2.10th May, 1997
Qayen: A magnitude 7.2 earthquake on the border of Afghanistan and Iran killed more than 1,500 people in both countries, and completely destroyed more than 10,000 homes.
3.20th Febuary1998
Takhar: The earthquake in the remote northeastern province of Takhar killed at least 2,300 people, with some estimates ranging as high as 4,000 and 818 injuries.
4.30th May 1998
Takhar: Another tremor of magnitude 6.6 in the same region killed 4,700 people and injured 10,000.
5.25th March 2002
Hindu Kush: Twin earthquakes in the Hindu Kush in March 2002 killed a total of 1,100 and injured 200
6.26th October 2015
Hindu Kush: one of the most powerful in Afghanistan’s recorded history, killed a total of 399 people in Afghanistan and neighbours Pakistan and India and injured 2,536
7.17th January 2022,
Badghis: Shallow earthquakes in Qadis district in the western province of Badghis killed at least 26 and injured 49.
8. 21st June, 2022
Khost: At least 1,000 people have been killed and more than 1,500 injured in eastern Afghanistan, the city of Khost.
