Afghanistan’s seismically volatile landscape trembled again as a 4.2 magnitude earthquake hit the Badakhshan district near Ashkasham on Thursday. Clocking in at 1:08 PM IST (4:30 PM local), the quake originated 33 kilometers inside Afghanistan at a profound 100-kilometer depth. Details on damage or fatalities remain scarce, but the event underscores the nation’s ongoing seismic unrest.

This latest shake follows a worrisome pattern. Wednesday brought a 3.8 magnitude event at 90 kilometers deep, while Tuesday’s 4.1 magnitude quake struck perilously close to the surface at 10 kilometers. Such shallow quakes amplify destruction: seismic energy surges directly to the ground, rattling buildings viciously and raising aftershock risks.

The Hindu Kush mountains, epicenter of much of this activity, sit astride the Indian-Eurasian plate boundary, where immense forces grind continents together. Fault lines crisscross the terrain, making places like Herat prime targets. Deeper quakes, like today’s, dissipate energy underground, often sparing the surface greater harm—but vigilance is key.

Meanwhile, Xinhua reports a concurrent 4.2 magnitude quake in Israel’s Dead Sea basin, Earth’s deepest depression. Emanating from 26 kilometers down at 31.1°N latitude and 35.5°E longitude, it hit at 9 AM Jerusalem time, felt widely but causing no reported injuries per Magen David Adom. Authorities mobilized for infrastructure checks, emphasizing preparedness in this rare but notable event.