Recent Natural Disasters | Calamities | Hazards

In early October 2023, a series of four powerful earthquakes, each measuring Mww 6.3, and their subsequent aftershocks rocked Herat Province in western Afghanistan. This seismic activity, occurring within the complex collision zone of the Arabian Plate, the Indian Plate, and the Eurasian Plate, has left a profound impact on the region. Overview of the Earthquakes The first two earthquakes struck on October 7, at 11:11 AFT and 11:42 AFT near the city of Herat, followed by multiple aftershocks. On October 11 and 15, two additional Mww 6.3 earthquakes shook the same area. The United States Geological Survey identified shallow thrust faulting as the cause for all four earthquakes, with a fault plane solution indicating an east–west rupture source. Subsequently, on October 28, a Mww 5.0 event hit the region, followed by a mb 4.8 aftershock. Human Toll Tragically, more than 2,400 people lost their lives in these earthquakes, marking the deadliest tremors in Afghanistan in recent years.  Impa

On March 21, 2023, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 hit Badakhshan Province in Afghanistan, at an intermediate depth of about 187 km (116 mi). The epicenter of the earthquake was located 40 km (25 mi) south-southeast of Jurm. According to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake had a magnitude of Mww 6.5, while the Pakistan Meteorological Department stated it was 6.8. However, the earthquake was initially reported as Mw 7.7, which was later found to be inaccurate. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre reported that the earthquake shook an area of about 1,000 km (620 mi), affecting around 285 million people in Afghanistan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The earthquake caused extensive damage in Afghanistan, with at least 10 deaths, 80 injuries, and over 665 houses destroyed across nine provinces. Laghman, Takhar, Panjshir, Badakhshan, Kabul, and Nangarhar provinces were among the most affected areas. In Pakis

September 3, 2020: Deadly flooding in Parwan, Afghanistan has claimed lives of at least 190 people. Floodwater completely destroyed 1,055 houses and almost 3 000 were partially damaged. 

April 21, 2020: Severe flooding in Afghanistan over the past weeks has claimed lives of at least 56 people and injured 31 others. The worst flood affected Provinces are Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Farah, Faryab, Parwan, Takhar, and Ghor.  Around 600 houses have been destroyed and more than 3 000 partially damaged.

April 1, 2020: Recent flash floods in Afghanistan have claimed lives of 11 people and injured 15 others. According to the Ministry of State for Natural Disaster and Humanitarian, flood water have totally destroyed around 288 houses. The government has allocated 1,615 million Afs to combat the natural disaster and provide humanitarian’s aid for the citizens.    Afghanistan Meteorological Department had issued flash flood warning for the region on March 31, 2020. Recommended Post: Recent Natural Disasters in Afghanistan 2020

February 14, 2020: At least 21 people have died in avalanches in the Daykundi province in Afghanistan, the Afghanistan's disaster management authority confirmed. Other 10 people have been injured. About 50 houses have been destroyed by the avalanches. The Afghanistan Meteorological Department  had predicted of severe weather with rainfall, heavy snow and flash flooding for several provinces, including Daykundi.

January 20, 2020: Severe weather in Afghanistan has claimed lives of 13 people and injured forty others. According to the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS), around 655 houses have been partially damaged, 30 houses are completely destroyed and 322 families have been displaced to the safe places. Heavy snowfall, flooding and a large number of avalanches were reported in different parts of Afghanistan between 12 -15 January 2020. Helmand, Kandahar, Zabul, Uruzgan, Laghman, Herat, Badghis, Ghor, Daykundi, Bamyan and Baghlan provinces in Afghanistan are badly affected by the recent weather related disasters in Afghanistan . Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authorities (ANDMA) and Provincial Disaster Management Committees (PDMCs) are working for disaster response in the affected areas.

January 12, 2020: Heavy snowfall has claimed lives of at least 16 people in Herat and Kandahar region of Afghanistan . Recent snowfall killed eight people in Kandahar and injured 16 others. At least eight people died in Herat. According to the Afghanistan's Natural Disaster Management Authority, the death toll from the snowfall would further rise in coming days. Main Post: Recent Natural Disasters List January 12, 2020

March 20, 2019: Flash floods in western Herat province of Afghanistan has claimed lives of at least 13 people, including women and children. Fatalities include four women and three children from Robat Sangi, Zindajan, Ghoryan, Zawal and Kohzor districts of the province. More than 1,855 houses have been destroyed and 2,841 others are partially damaged in the province, the Afghanistan Times reported. In the beginning of this month, flash floods in Kandahar, the southern Afghanistan claimed lives of 20 people.

February 14, 2019: Flash flooding caused by heavy rains killed at least seven people and displaced more than 800 families in western Farah province of Afghanistan . According to the Pajhwok Afghan News , the flooding was followed by heavy rainfall and snowfall on Wednesday.

May 15, 2018: At least 34 people have been died in recent flash floods caused by heavy rainfall in several provinces of Afghanistan . According to the Hashmat Khan Bahaduri, the spokesperson for the Afghanistan Natural Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), the flash floods have mainly affected the northern and central part of the country, damaging around 900 houses.

Flash floods in Badakhshan province of Afghanistan have claimed lives of at least six people and injured five others. Recent flash floods have affected the people of Tashkan, Tagab, Shahd, Awghonch, Baharak, Shaghnan, Shaki, Nasi, Maymi, Zebak and Arghistan districts of the province, Bakhtar News reported quoting Ahmad Nawed Farotan spokesman of Badakhshan governor.

A landslide in Maimana, the capital of northwestern Faryab province of Afghanistan has claimed lives of two children and injured one other. The children aged between 10 and 15 died in the landslide disaster  in the Bibi Ayena area of the eighth police district,  Pajhwok Afghan News reported.

Recent flooding in central Bamyan province of Afghanistan has claimed lives of at least five people and damaged about 350 houses. According to Pajhwok Afghan News , fatalities are from Wars and Panjab districts. Natural disaster has destroyed 184 houses and partially damaged 166 others, head of the Afghanistan Natural Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) for Bamyan said.

A tremor has been felt in New Delhi, the capital city of India at 03:58 pm Sunday afternoon on April 10, 2016. According to India Meteorological Department, the earthquake of magnitude 6.8 had its epicenter in Hindukush region of Afghanistan.

This list contains all major natural disasters in Afghanistan in 2016 with detail report. Click for most recent natural disasters in Afghanistan

This list contains all major natural disasters in Afghanistan in 2015 with detail report. Click for most recent natural disasters in Afghanistan October 2015 October 26: Magnitude 7.5 massive earthquake hit Hindu Kush region Epicenter was located 45 km N of `Alaqahdari-ye Kiran wa Munjan. July 2015 July 8: Flash flood in northeastern Badakhshan province of Afghanistan Flash flood in northeastern Badakhshan province of Afghanistan has claimed life of a person and damaged more than 80 houses. February 2015 February 25: Deadly avalanche in Afghanistan Avalanches caused by a heavy winter snow have claimed lives of at least 124 people in northeastern Afghanistan, a Natural Disaster Management Authority said The Associated Press (AP).

Click here for latest updates on this earthquake Magnitude 7.5 massive earthquake hit Hindu Kush region today , the U.S. Geological Survey reported. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake's epicenter was located 45 km N of `Alaqahdari-ye Kiran wa Munjan. It was 132.1 miles deep. At least sixteen people have died across Pakistan. Forty minutes after the first earthquake, another 4.8 magnitude tremor was reported in the same area.

Flash flood in northeastern Badakhshan province of Afghanistan has claimed life of a person and damaged more than 80 houses. Flash flood caused havoc in the Aynok village of Suhada district, Pajhwok Afghan News has written quoting Afghanistan Natural Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA).

Avalanches caused by a heavy winter snow have claimed lives of at least 124 people in northeastern Afghanistan, a Natural Disaster Management Authority said The Associated Press (AP). According to Mohammad Aslam Syas, the deputy director of the Afghanistan Natural Disaster Management Authority, the avalanches buried homes across four northeast provinces with worst hit to be Panjshir province, located around 100 kilometers northeast of the capital, Kabul.