A powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan has killed at least 812 people and injured 2,817. The tremors highlight the growing seismic risks across South Asia, especially in countries like India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
After the devastating Bhuj earthquake in 2001, India has continued to face seismic threats. In 2021, Assam recorded a strong quake, while Delhi has reported more than 17 minor tremors between January and July this year. Parts of Pakistan, including Karachi, recently experienced moderate or minor quakes in March and June this year.
The Hindu Kush and Himalayan regions, in particular, have seen earthquakes occur with increasing frequency.
The primary cause of these quakes is the ongoing collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Himalayan crust remains unstable, making the region especially vulnerable. The Indian plate is moving northward by about five centimetres each year, colliding with the Eurasian plate and creating active fault lines that release accumulated stress.
A study by the Ocean University of China suggests the Indian plate is not sliding smoothly beneath the Eurasian plate but is splitting and peeling into the Earth's mantle.
This process, known as delamination, occurs when the denser lower portion of the plate sinks while the lighter upper portion continues to move beneath the surface. This fragmentation and stress concentration in the crust intensify seismic activity.
Additionally, the region's geological and topographical diversity, from high mountain ranges to deep valley systems, and the presence of thick sedimentary layers further aggravate the earthquake risk. The uplift and deformation cause frequent ground shaking in the Himalayan foothills, northern India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
Rising global temperatures are accelerating glacier melt in the Himalayas, with studies warning the region could lose up to 80% of its glaciers by the end of this century.
As the ice mass diminishes, the Earth's lithosphere begins to rebound, shifting upward or downward in response to the loss of weight. Meltwater also seeps into the ground, reducing friction between tectonic plates and further increasing the chances of earthquakes.
While tectonic plate movements remain the primary cause of earthquakes in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, climate change is amplifying their intensity and frequency.
Experts stress the need for climate-resilient policies, cross-border cooperation, disaster preparedness, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate future risks.