A shallow Mw 6.2 earthquake killed over 1,000 people in southeastern Afghanistan, one of the deadliest quakes to strike the country in decades.
Key Facts
- Magnitude
- 6.2 (Mw)
- Depth
- 4.0 km
- Death toll
- 1,052–1,163 deaths
- Injured
- 1,627–2,976 people
- Homes collapsed or damaged
- At least 10,000 homes
- People who felt shaking
- At least 119 million people
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The earthquake's destructive impact was amplified by its extremely shallow hypocenter of only 4 kilometres, its location near densely populated rural areas in southeastern Afghanistan, and the widespread use of low-quality, unreinforced building construction throughout the affected provinces.
On 22 June 2022 at 01:24 AFT, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck southeastern Afghanistan, reaching a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). The worst-affected provinces were Paktika, Paktia, Khost, and Nangarhar in Afghanistan, with additional casualties in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Shaking was felt as far as Punjab, India, and Iran.
Between 1,052 and 1,163 people were killed and up to 2,976 were injured. At least 10,000 homes collapsed or were severely damaged, leaving large numbers of residents homeless. The disaster compounded the humanitarian crisis already facing Afghanistan, drawing international attention to the country's need for emergency relief.
Human Cost
Each dot represents approximately 10,000 deaths. Total estimated: 1,052 (earthquake)
Range: 1,052 – 1,163