Let's take a look at the geography of Afghanistan and its neighbouring countries. Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan & India’s Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh are often in the news for earthquakes, as they lie around the Hindu Kush zone — one of the most earthquake-prone areas on Earth.

Just this month, this area has witnessed over 35 minor earthquakes. Slow collisions between the Indian subcontinent & the Eurasian tectonic plate—large, thin plates that comprise the Earth’s crust & upper mantle—are the reason behind these disastrous earthquakes.

The Hindu Kush region comprises an area that sees constant seismic activity, as the Indian tectonic plate continuously wedges into the Eurasian plates. The fault line that the Hindu Kush region skirts around is the same one that props up the Himalayas.

However, the earthquakes do not directly fall on the fault line, and this has left the scientists baffled. In fact, it is many kilometres away from the slow-motion crash zone where the Eurasian & Indian tectonic plates are steadily colliding. So, how do we explain these quakes?

A 2019 study proposed the existence of a "long blob" of rock that is gradually trickling down from the range's underbelly — into the hot, viscous mantle below — which then pulls away from the crust each year. The resultant stress produces earthquakes in the region. 📸: Pixabay

This downwards movement is actually 10 times faster than the tectonic movement among the Indian and Eurasian plates,  which is a primary driver of most earthquakes in the region!

While the actual reason may remain unclear, greater caution has to be taken around the Hindu Kush region, many of which are close to India’s Northwest region, parts of J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, the Rann of Kutch, North Bihar and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

@weatherindia prayers are with them all

@weatherindia Kinda hoping it was a Taliban specific earth quake.

@weatherindia So sad...I knew one was coming...The earth has been trembling in diverse places for a while now...

@weatherindia

@weatherindia Climate change has an impact on our daily lives.

@weatherindia Because the Messiah is coming,repent the nations of the earth for Elijah the prophet of the Lord is in the land judging unrepentant nations

@weatherindia DU THAY AVE AH OME DEPOWE DOUWN THAYR… 🏗

@weatherindia Luke 21:10, 11

@weatherindia The universe is rejecting the Taliban rule.

@weatherindia Weather Manipulation by USA

@weatherindia Heaven's punishment.....ish.....

@weatherindia @daniellealana_ So heartbreaking!😔💔

@weatherindia 🙏 Allah Rehm

@weatherindia Most seismic zones are found along boundaries of tectonic plates e.g. Japan, Philippines, East Indies and west coast of north and South America and parts of Asia.

@weatherindia RIP

@weatherindia Because they were made too

@weatherindia This country is stuck in reverse gear. ! They sadly are beyond help !

@weatherindia Surely that number will be bigger in the coming days. Like sheesh they live in mud houses what do you expect

@weatherindia Must be climate change!