M5.0 Earthquake Pārūn, Afghanistan

On November 15, 2026 at 17:48 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 intermediate depth earthquake struck 74 km N of Pārūn, Afghanistan, at a depth of 100.7 km and coordinates 36.0947°, 70.9503°. This earthquake was detected by 96 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred 21 days ago 56 km SW of Ashkāsham, Afghanistan. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 1 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.

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

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Pārūn, Afghanistan?

The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 74 km N of Pārūn, Afghanistan on November 15, 2026 at 17:48 UTC had a depth of 100.7 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 36.0947°, 70.9503°, which is 74 km N of Pārūn, Afghanistan. View all earthquakes in Afghanistan.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.

Is this the same earthquake as the M5.2 one earlier?

No. This magnitude 5.0 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred earlier 56 km SW of Ashkāsham, Afghanistan. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.

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 5.0 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

M5.0 Earthquake 74 km N of Pārūn, Afghanistan — November 15, 2026

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