M5.3 Earthquake 27 km NNE of Nahrīn, Afghanistan — December 19, 2025
2025-12-19 05:39:10 UTC (2025-12-19) · approx. 10:39 AM UTC+5 local
Felt by 2 people across nearby locations.
On December 19, 2025 at 05:39 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 27 km NNE of Nahrīn, Afghanistan, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates 36.2913°, 69.2473°. This earthquake was detected by 122 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 433, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Afghanistan, a region characterized by the Hindu Kush deep seismic zone, where remnant subducted lithosphere produces intermediate-depth earthquakes at 150-300 km. View all earthquakes in Afghanistan.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 2 citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report
Earthquake Details
69.2473°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Nahrīn, Afghanistan?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 27 km NNE of Nahrīn, Afghanistan on December 19, 2025 at 05:39 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 36.2913°, 69.2473°, which is 27 km NNE of Nahrīn, Afghanistan. View all earthquakes in Afghanistan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.3 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Has Afghanistan had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Afghanistan was the M7.5 Hindu Kush earthquake of October 26, 2015. Today's magnitude 5.3 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
What should I do after an earthquake?
If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000rvxc). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, December 19, 2025). M5.3 Earthquake 27 km NNE of Nahrīn, Afghanistan — December 19, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000rvxc/