M4.5 Earthquake 42 km SSW of Ashkāsham, Afghanistan — February 21, 2025
2025-02-21 22:50:03 UTC (2025-02-21) · approx. 3:50 AM UTC+5 local
On February 21, 2025 at 22:50 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 intermediate depth earthquake struck 42 km SSW of Ashkāsham, Afghanistan, at a depth of 124.7 km and coordinates 36.3507°, 71.2919°. This earthquake was detected by 54 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 m — 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
Earthquake Details
71.2919°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Ashkāsham, Afghanistan?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 42 km SSW of Ashkāsham, Afghanistan on February 21, 2025 at 22:50 UTC had a depth of 124.7 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 36.3507°, 71.2919°, which is 42 km SSW of Ashkāsham, Afghanistan. View all earthquakes in Afghanistan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days 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 4.5 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000pfc9). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, February 21, 2025). M4.5 Earthquake 42 km SSW of Ashkāsham, Afghanistan — February 21, 2025. Retrieved May 6, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000pfc9/