Moderate magnitude 4.5 earthquake at 130 km depth21 Mar 02:18 UTC: First to report: NCS after 17 minutes.I didn't feel itI felt this quakeEarthquake detailsDate & timeMar 21, 2026 02:01:50 UTC - Local time at epicenterSaturday, Mar 21, 2026, at 06:31 am (Asia/Kolkata GMT +4:30)StatusconfirmedMagnitude4.5Depth130 kmEpicenter latitude / longitude34.942°N / 70.07°EDowlat Shah, Laghman, AfghanistanAlso near: Pakistan 94 km (58 mi) awaySeismic antipode34.942°S / 109.93°WShaking intensityII Very weak shakingFelt0 reportsPrimary data sourceNCS (National Center for Seismology)Nearest volcanoVakak (207 km / 129 mi)Weather at epicenter at time of quakeOvercast Clouds 6.1°C (43 F), humidity: 59%, wind: 2 m/s (3 kts) from NEEstimated seismic energy released3.5 x 1011 joules (98.6 megawatt hours, equivalent to 84.8 tons of TNT) | equivalent to ONE quake of magnitude 4.5 | about seismic energy34 minutes agoMar 21, 2026 02:01 GMT / Mar 21, 2026 06:31 am (Kolkata time)Lat / Lng: 34.942 / 70.07: 89km ENE of Kabul, AfghanistanSource: NCSOther sources: RaspberryShake: 4.5 / 130 kmDetail info | You felt it? - Report it!';storedMarkers.push(['quake-22828273',34.94200,70.07000,'34 minutes ago: Mag. 4.5, 89km ENE of Kabul, Afghanistan',html,'quakes-6-24.png',25,25,12,12,125]); function mkRep(id,notFelt){var nFelt=notFelt||false;var src="https://www.volcanoesandearthquakes.com/app/earthquake-report.php?quakeId="+id;if(nFelt==true){src+="¬Felt=true";}window.open(src,"","status=0,toolbar=0,location=0,directories=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,scrollbars=1,height=400,width=350");} function locationHashChanged(e){-1!=e.oldURL.indexOf("#popupMap")&&closePopup()} window.onhashchange = locationHashChanged; function comment(e){var t=e.parentNode,a=(t.dataset.id,document.getElementById("commentForm"));"none"==a.style.display?(t.appendChild(a),a.style.display="block"):a.style.display="none"}function sendComment(e){var t=e.parentNode,a=t.parentNode.dataset.id,n=document.getElementById("commentContent"),p=n.value.trim();if(p){var o="id="+a+"&quakeId="+thisQuakeId;o+="&comment="+decodeURIComponent(p),mkRequest("//reports.volcanodiscovery.com/app/eqReportComment.php","post",o,function(e){e.responseText;alert("Thank you for submitting your comment!"),t.style.display="none",n.value=""})}}function flagReport(e){var t=e.parentNode.dataset.id;if(confirm("Report this as inappropriate?")){var a="id="+t+"&quakeId="+thisQuakeId+"&flagAsInappropriate=1";mkRequest("//reports.volcanodiscovery.com/app/eqReportComment.php","post",a,function(t){var a=t.responseText;alert(a),e.style.display="none"})}}function likeReport(e){var t="id="+e.parentNode.dataset.id+"&quakeId="+thisQuakeId+"&like=1";mkRequest("//reports.volcanodiscovery.com/app/eqReportComment.php","post",t,function(t){t.responseText;e.style.opacity=.5})}]]>[smaller] [bigger]Most recent quakes Top 20 past 24 hrs Quakes in AfghanistanNearby placesThe closest larger town where the quake might have been felt is Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan with 4,400,000 inhabitants, in 94 km (58 mi) distance southwest of the epicenter. People likely experienced very weak shaking there. Many smaller towns and villages are located closer to the epicenter and might have experienced stronger shaking.The following table shows some of the places that might have been affected (or not) by the shaking.DistancePlaceMax. shaking intensity(*)RegionCountry33 km (20 mi)SE of epicenterMehtar Lam(pop: 17,300)II: Very weakMehtar Lam, LaghmanAfghanistan40 km (25 mi)W of epicenterTagab(pop: 6,400)II: Very weakKapisaAfghanistan67 km (42 mi)SE of epicenterJalalabad(pop: 271,900)II: Very weakJalalabad, NangarharAfghanistan78 km (49 mi)W of epicenterJabal Saraj(pop: 15,000)II: Very weakParwanAfghanistan82 km (51 mi)W of epicenterCharikar(pop: 53,700)II: Very weakCharikar, ParwanAfghanistan89 km (56 mi)W of epicenterMir Bachah Kot(pop: 5,410)II: Very weakMir Bachah Kot, KabulAfghanistan94 km (58 mi)SW of epicenterHukumati Azrah(pop: 12,500)II: Very weakAzrah, LogarAfghanistan94 km (58 mi)NE of epicenterParun(pop: 1000)II: Very weakNuristanAfghanistan94 km (58 mi)SW of epicenterKabul(pop: 4,434,600)II: Very weakKabulAfghanistan99 km (61 mi)E of epicenterAsadabad(pop: 48,400)II: Very weakKunarAfghanistan108 km (67 mi)SE of epicenterMarkaz-e Woluswali-ye Achin(pop: 15,100)II: Very weakAchin, NangarharAfghanistan110 km (68 mi)W of epicenterPaghman(pop: 49,200)II: Very weakKabulAfghanistan118 km (73 mi)E of epicenterAsmar(pop: 15,700)II: Very weakBar Kunar, KunarAfghanistan149 km (93 mi)SW of epicenterBaraki Barak(pop: 22,300)II: Very weakBaraki Barak, LogarAfghanistan151 km (94 mi)NW of epicenterNahrin(pop: 22,400)II: Very weakBaghlanAfghanistan158 km (98 mi)SE of epicenterShabqadar(pop: 66,500)II: Very weakCharsadda District, Khyber PakhtunkhwaPakistan161 km (100 mi)SE of epicenterTangi(pop: 29,400)II: Very weakCharsadda District, Khyber PakhtunkhwaPakistan166 km (103 mi)NW of epicenterPul-e Khumri(pop: 56,400)II: Very weakPuli Khumri, BaghlanAfghanistan169 km (105 mi)SW of epicenterGardez(pop: 103,600)II: Very weakWilayat-e PaktiyaAfghanistan173 km (107 mi)SE of epicenterPeshawar(pop: 4,758,800)II: Very weakKhyber PakhtunkhwaPakistan177 km (110 mi)SE of epicenterCharsadda(pop: 120,200)II: Very weakKhyber PakhtunkhwaPakistan177 km (110 mi)E of epicenterBat Khela(pop: 46,100)II: Very weakMalakand Protected Area, Khyber PakhtunkhwaPakistan179 km (111 mi)S of epicenterKhost(pop: 96,100)II: Very weakVelayat-e KhowstAfghanistan181 km (112 mi)NW of epicenterBaghlan(pop: 108,400)II: Very weakBaghlanAfghanistan197 km (123 mi)SE of epicenterKohat(pop: 151,400)II: Very weakKhyber PakhtunkhwaPakistan199 km (124 mi)SE of epicenterMardan(pop: 300,400)II: Very weakKhyber PakhtunkhwaPakistan203 km (126 mi)SE of epicenterNowshera Kalan(pop: 88,000)II: Very weakNowshera District, Khyber PakhtunkhwaPakistan205 km (127 mi)W of epicenterBamyan(pop: 61,900)II: Very weakBamyanAfghanistan205 km (128 mi)N of epicenterTaloqan(pop: 64,300)II: Very weakTaluqan, TakharAfghanistan206 km (128 mi)SE of epicenterNowshera Cantonment(pop: 96,800)II: Very weakNowshera District, Khyber PakhtunkhwaPakistan210 km (131 mi)E of epicenterMingora(pop: 279,900)II: Very weakSwat, Khyber PakhtunkhwaPakistan212 km (132 mi)NW of epicenterKhanabad(pop: 71,500)II: Very weakKhanabad, KunduzAfghanistan216 km (134 mi)SW of epicenterGhazni(pop: 141,000)II: Very weakGhazniAfghanistan223 km (139 mi)S of epicenterBannu(pop: 1,357,900)II: Very weakKhyber PakhtunkhwaPakistan227 km (141 mi)NW of epicenterKunduz(pop: 161,900)II: Very weakKunduzAfghanistan229 km (142 mi)SE of epicenterTordher(pop: 150,000)II: Very weakSwabi District, Khyber PakhtunkhwaPakistan237 km (147 mi)NW of epicenterAibak(pop: 47,800)II: Very weakAibak, SamanganAfghanistan238 km (148 mi)E of epicenterSwabi(pop: 97,400)II: Very weakKhyber PakhtunkhwaPakistan244 km (152 mi)N of epicenterArt Khwajah(pop: 18,600)II: Very weakDasht-e Qal'ah, TakharAfghanistan290 km (180 mi)NW of epicenterKhulm(pop: 64,900)II: Very weakBalkhAfghanistanNotes:(*) Shaking intensity according to the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (MMI) and estimated using seismic models.User-reports for this quakeThere are no user reports for this quake yet.If you felt it, be the first to report it!Get the Android appCompare Quake DataData for the same earthquake as reported by different agenciesThe more agencies report about the same quake and post similar data, the more confidence you can have in the data. It takes normally up to a few hours until earthquake parameters are calculated with near-optimum precision.MagDepthTime GMT2026-03-21EpicenterAgency4.5130 km81 mi02:01:5089km ENE of Kabul, AfghanistanNCS (National Center for Seismology)4.5130 km81 mi02:01:50Southeastern Afghanistan0 km (0 mi) epicenter difference with NCSRaspberryShake (RaspberryShake)Aftershocks for this quakeNo aftershocks have been recorded so far. When aftershocks are detected, we will update this section.What are aftershocks?Larger earthquakes (above magnitude 5 or so) such as this one are usually followed by smaller ones known as aftershocks that occur in the same area during the days, weeks, months or even years after the main shock.[More info]What about this quake?Based on its magnitude, the fault that was active during the quake likely ruptured beneath a surface area of approximately 3 km2 (1 square miles) as a first-order estimate. The length of the rupture zone thus was probably around 3 km (2 mi).[More info]Recorded aftershocks, latest first (0 quake)Mar 21, 2026 06:31 am (Kolkata)34 minutes ago4.5130 km0 km - This quake89km ENE of Kabul, AfghanistanMain Shock (this quake)MoreMap of aftershocksEarthquake statisticsAverage number of earthquakesBased on data from the past 56 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900, there are about 28.8 quakes on average per year in the area near the epicenter of this quake (within 100 km/61 mi):Mag. 6 or higher: 0.05 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 20.8 years)Mag. 5 or higher: 0.65 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 1.5 years)Mag. 4 or higher: 14.6 quakes per yearMag. 3 or higher: 25.8 quakes per yearMag. 2 or higher: 27.2 quakes per yearThe area where this quake occurred has a high level of seismic activity. It has had at least 6 quakes above magnitude 6 since 1900, which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently, probably on average approximately every 20 to 25 years.Number of quakes per yearPrevious quakes in the same area of this earthquakeThe earthquake occurred 4 weeks after a magnitude 5.8 earthquake had hit on Friday, Feb 20, 2026, at 05:39 pm (GMT +4:30 local time) in 78 km (48 mi) distance to the north:Mag. 5.8 earthquake 38 km NE of Bāzārak - Afghanistan - Feb 20, 2026 - The largest quake near the epicenter of this quake during the 10 years before was an event of magnitude 6.0. It had occurred 29 weeks earlier, on Sunday, Aug 31, 2025, at 11:47 pm (GMT +4:30 local time) in Kunar, Afghanistan:Mag. 6.0 earthquake 37 km WSW of Asadābād - Afghanistan - Aug 31, 2025 - The strongest-ever (since 1900) recorded quake in this area measured magnitude 7.8. It had occurred 104 years ago earlier, on Tuesday, Nov 15, 1921, at 08:36 pm local time (Universal Time GMT +0) in Badakhshan, Afghanistan:Mag. 7.8 earthquake 71 km SSW of Jurm - Afghanistan - Nov 15, 1921 - Below is a list and map of larger or recent quakes that had occurred near the epicenter before this earthquake (within up to 100 km/61 mi distance, up to 300 km/183 mi for very large quakes above mag. 7). Filter and sort the list by magnitude or time.Max results102050100AllMagnitudeAll2+3+4+5+6+7+8+Time before48 hours1 week30 days1 year5 years30 yearsAny ageDate and TimeMagDepthDistanceLocationDetailsMapFeb 20, 05:39 pm (GMT +4:30)5.891 km78 km (48 mi) to the N 38 km NE of Bāzārak, Afghanistan 57 reportsInfoFeb 2, 12:06 am (GMT +4:30)4.410 km77 km (48 mi) to the SE 14 km east of Jalalabad, Nangarhar, Afghanistan 1 reportInfoJan 13, 07:19 pm (GMT +4:30)4.072 km81 km (51 mi) to the NW 34 km north of Charikar, Parwan, AfghanistanInfoJan 9, 03:05 pm (GMT +4:30)4.283 km54 km (34 mi) to the EKunar, 67 km north of Jalalabad, Nangarhar, AfghanistanInfoJan 6, 06:05 pm (GMT +4:30)4.480 km66 km (41 mi) to the E 36 km west of Asadabad, Kunar, Afghanistan 1 reportInfoDec 9, 2025 12:17 pm (GMT +4:30)4.510 km87 km (54 mi) to the SE Hindu Kush Region, AfghanistanInfoOct 17, 2025 04:23 am (GMT +4:30)4.710 km93 km (58 mi) to the SE 35 km east of Jalalabad, Nangarhar, Afghanistan 1 reportInfoSep 23, 2025 03:20 pm (GMT +4:30)4.910 km66 km (41 mi) to the SE 24 km northeast of Jalalabad, Nangarhar, Afghanistan 2 reportsInfoSep 7, 2025 04:31 am (GMT +4:30)4.610 km67 km (42 mi) to the SE 26 km northeast of Jalalabad, Nangarhar, Afghanistan 1 reportInfoSep 5, 2025 09:55 pm (GMT +4:30)5.210 km70 km (44 mi) to the SE 24 km NE of Jalālābād, Afghanistan 9 reportsInfoSep 5, 2025 06:00 am (GMT +4:30)5.29.1 km73 km (45 mi) to the SE 39 km SW of Asadābād, Afghanistan 4 reportsInfoSep 4, 2025 09:26 pm (GMT +4:30)5.610 km70 km (44 mi) to the E 37 km southwest of Asadabad, Kunar, Afghanistan 56 reportsInfoSep 2, 2025 04:59 pm (GMT +4:30)5.210 km63 km (39 mi) to the SE 48 km southwest of Asadabad, Kunar, Afghanistan 6 reportsInfoSep 1, 2025 04:16 am (GMT +4:30)5.210.9 km66 km (41 mi) to the SE 46 km southwest of Asadabad, Kunar, Afghanistan 2 reportsInfoSep 1, 2025 02:03 am (GMT +4:30)5.210 km66 km (41 mi) to the SE 42 km southwest of Asadabad, Kunar, Afghanistan 4 reportsInfoAug 31, 2025 11:47 pm (GMT +4:30)6.08 km71 km (44 mi) to the E 37 km WSW of Asadābād, Afghanistan 144 reportsInfoMar 2, 2022 02:28 pm (GMT +4:30)5.291 km71 km (44 mi) to the N 35 km northeast of Bazarak, Panjshir, Afghanistan 7 reportsInfoOct 26, 2015 01:39 pm (GMT +4:30)7.5207 km187 km (116 mi) to the NE 77 km southeast of Fayzabad, Badakhshan, AfghanistanInfoApr 24, 2013 09:25 am (Universal Time)5.363 km38 km (23 mi) to the S 5.2 km south of Mehtar Lam, Laghman, AfghanistanInfoApr 24, 2013 01:55 pm (GMT +4:30)5.564 km48 km (30 mi) to the SLaghman, 24 km northwest of Jalalabad, Nangarhar, Afghanistan 61 reportsInfoDec 29, 2012 10:20 pm (GMT +4:30)5.5117 km98 km (61 mi) to the NEBadakhshan, 44 km northwest of Parun, Nuristan, Afghanistan 23 reportsInfoNov 15, 2010 05:21 am (GMT +4:30)5.234 km56 km (35 mi) to the SE 14 km north of Jalalabad, Nangarhar, AfghanistanInfoApr 17, 2009 04:12 am (GMT +4:30)5.14 km93 km (58 mi) to the S Hindu Kush region, AfghanistanInfoApr 17, 2009 01:57 am (GMT +4:30)5.25.9 km84 km (52 mi) to the S 44 km southwest of Jalalabad, Nangarhar, AfghanistanInfoDec 25, 2002 11:43 pm (GMT +4:30)5.591 km87 km (54 mi) to the N 54 km northeast of Bazarak, Panjshir, AfghanistanInfoAug 26, 1999 02:29 pm (GMT +4:30)5.247 km83 km (52 mi) to the E Southeastern AfghanistanInfoAug 26, 1999 02:29 pm (GMT +4:30)5.233 km85 km (53 mi) to the E Hindu Kush region, AfghanistanInfoFeb 11, 1999 06:38 pm (GMT +4:30)6.033 km100 km (62 mi) to the SW 35 km southeast of Kabul, Kabul, AfghanistanInfoAug 9, 1993 05:12 pm (GMT +4:30)7.0215 km175 km (109 mi) to the NE 53 km S of Jurm, AfghanistanInfoOct 25, 1990 09:23 am (GMT +4:30)5.8114 km43 km (27 mi) to the NENuristan, 77 km north of Jalalabad, Nangarhar, AfghanistanInfoJul 29, 1985 12:24 pm (GMT +4:30)7.499 km158 km (98 mi) to the NEBadakhshan, 242 km northeast of Kabul, Kabul, AfghanistanInfoFeb 1, 1984 06:52 pm (GMT +4:30)6.133 km52 km (33 mi) to the SE 21 km north of Jalalabad, Nangarhar, AfghanistanInfoDec 31, 1983 04:22 am (GMT +4:30)7.4215 km170 km (106 mi) to the N 84 km south of Fayzabad, Badakhshan, AfghanistanInfoNov 20, 1982 12:28 pm (GMT +4:30)5.725 km57 km (35 mi) to the SE 18 km NNE of Jal?l?b?d, AfghanistanInfoDec 28, 1972 09:27 pm (GMT +4:30)5.664 km38 km (24 mi) to the SE 18 km east of Mehtar Lam, Laghman, AfghanistanInfoNov 16, 1972 05:13 pm (GMT +4:30)5.8116 km81 km (50 mi) to the N Hindu Kush region, AfghanistanInfoNov 4, 1972 04:28 am (GMT +4:30)5.410 km95 km (59 mi) to the S 4 km ESE of ?uk?mat? Azrah, AfghanistanInfoJan 25, 1972 10:11 am (GMT +4:30)5.496 km73 km (45 mi) to the N Hindu Kush Region, AfghanistanInfoMay 16, 1969 01:09 am (GMT +4:30)5.630 km81 km (51 mi) to the SE Hindu Kush region, AfghanistanInfoMar 14, 1965 08:23 pm (GMT +4:30)7.4208 km173 km (108 mi) to the N 52 km south of Jurm, Badakhshan, AfghanistanInfoMay 7, 1958 07:17 pm (GMT +4:30)5.530 km96 km (60 mi) to the E Hindu Kush region, AfghanistanInfoJun 9, 1956 04:30 am (GMT +4:30)7.60 km235 km (146 mi) to the WBaghlan, 43 km northwest of Bamyan, Bamyan, AfghanistanInfoMar 4, 1949 10:19 am (Universal Time)7.5229 km189 km (117 mi) to the N 36 km south of Jurm, Badakhshan, AfghanistanInfoMar 22, 1926 04:24 pm (Universal Time)5.735 km39 km (25 mi) to the NW 34 km east of Bazarak, Panjshir, AfghanistanInfoOct 13, 1924 04:17 pm (Universal Time)7.3205 km194 km (121 mi) to the NE 80 km southeast of Fayzabad, Badakhshan, AfghanistanInfoDec 6, 1922 06:25 pm (GMT +4:30)7.50 km178 km (110 mi) to the N Afghanistan: Hindu KushInfoNov 15, 1921 08:36 pm (Universal Time)7.8240 km154 km (96 mi) to the N 98 km south of Fayzabad, Badakhshan, AfghanistanInfoJul 4, 1911 06:03 pm (GMT +4:30)7.60 km124 km (77 mi) to the N Afghanistan: Hindu KushInfoJul 7, 1909 09:37 pm (Universal Time)7.7200 km156 km (97 mi) to the NBadakhshan, 136 km northeast of Bazarak, Panjshir, AfghanistanInfoOct 24, 1908 09:16 pm (Universal Time)7.0220 km89 km (55 mi) to the N Hindu Kush RegionInfoMap of earlier quakes in the area of this quakeMax results102050100AllMagnitudeAll2+3+4+5+6+7+8+Time before48 hours1 week30 days1 year5 years30 yearsAny ageOldest quakes are shown in yellow, most recent in red.[quakes -][quakes +][smaller][bigger]