On January 6, 2025, a 4.5 magnitude earthquake shook Afghanistan, as reported by the National Centre of Seismology (NCS). The tremor occurred at 12:47 PM IST, with its epicenter located at Latitude 36.55 N and Longitude 67.86 E, at a depth of 120 kilometers. This information was shared on social media platforms.
Earlier, on December 22, 2024, another earthquake of the same magnitude struck the Badakhshan region of Afghanistan at 6:30 AM IST. This quake had a shallower depth of 10 kilometers, with coordinates at Latitude 37.10 N and Longitude 71.12 E.
The Badakhshan region, known for its mountainous terrain, is prone to natural disasters. Over the past 45 days, more than six earthquakes have been recorded in Afghanistan. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), Afghanistan is highly susceptible to natural calamities like earthquakes, floods, and landslides. These frequent disasters pose significant challenges to communities already affected by prolonged conflict and underdevelopment, leaving them with limited capacity to handle such shocks.
Magnitude is a way to measure the size or energy of an earthquake. A 4.5 magnitude earthquake is considered light and might cause minor damage.
The epicenter is the point on the Earth's surface directly above where an earthquake starts. It's like the starting point of the earthquake on the ground.
Latitude and Longitude are like a map's coordinates that help us find a specific location on Earth. Latitude tells us how far north or south a place is, and Longitude tells us how far east or west it is.
Badakhshan is a region in Afghanistan known for its mountains. It's a place that often experiences natural disasters like earthquakes.
UN stands for the United Nations, an international organization that works to maintain peace and help countries in need. They often help during natural disasters.
Vulnerability to disasters means that a place is more likely to be affected by natural events like earthquakes, floods, or storms, often because of its location or lack of resources.
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